Warrap authorities vow to uphold human rights amid un concerns

KUAJOK – Warrap State authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to respecting human rights and upholding the rule of law, amid concerns raised by the United Nations.

Acting Governor Aluel Garang assured a visiting UN human rights team on Monday that the state government is dedicated to due process.

“The State government is committed to follow due process of the justice system,” Garang said during a meeting with the team led by Musa Yerro Gassama, the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in South Sudan.

Gassama said the mission aimed to assess the human rights situation and the efficacy of the judicial system in Warrap State.

He was accompanied by the human rights team and the UNMISS field office head in Kuajok.

The assurance comes against a backdrop of concerns over human rights abuses in South Sudan.

A 2023 UNMISS country report highlighted issues including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, harsh prison conditions, and judicial independence.

Warrap State enacted the Conflict Resolution and Sustainable Development Act, also known as the Warrap State Green Book, in February 2024.

The law prescribes the death penalty by firing squad for murder and cattle raiding convictions.