Yakani reacts as Kiir set to sign UN treaty into law

JUBA, FEBRUARY 23^rd 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s prominent activist Edmund Yakani on Thursday issued a statement reacting to an announcement by the government that President Salva Kiir Mayardit will sign a very important UN treaty into law.

Speaking during a press conference in Juba on Tuesday, South Sudan’s minister of cabinet affairs Martin Elia Lomuro said that President Kiir will next week sign at least even treaties into law including an specifically important UN treaty on rights of people with disabilities.

The bills include convention on the prohibition of the development, production stockpiling of biological weapons, Protocol to African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, International convention on Economics, International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, International Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability and International Convention Against Doping in Sport.

“The following seven conventions or treaties are due to be signed by President this week, the week commencing 20th February 2023,” Lomuro told reporters during the press conference where the government announced end of transitional period.

In reaction, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) hailed the announcement as a positive response by the government to a previous call in which the civil society watchdog urged the president to sign the bill on people with disabilities into law.

“CEPO is proud that president will be signing the UN conventions and treaties including the African Union Maputo protocol. This is God response to our advocacy and lobby. In advance congratulations to president for his commitment for respect of human rights,” CEPO said in a statement.

Yakani who is the CEPO executive director welcomed the move and described the upcoming signing of the treaties as a milestone for the civil society watchdog’s advocacy towards a country where all are equal and said the group will work with the government in ensuring that rights of disabled people are respected and promoted.

“Among impressive move was the signing of the UN convention on the rights of the persons with disabilities. This is a key milestone in our advocacy and lobby with our partners namely South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities and Light for the World. South Sudan becoming party to the convention of the rights of persons with disabilities is remarkable act and demonstration of political commitment for respect of rights of persons with disabilities,” he said.

“CEPO will be working with the relevant government authorities and in partnership with South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities with support from Light for the World and others on the development of national action plan on the implementation of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. This convention empowers all actors in support of promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities to act on realization of the rights of persons with disabilities fully and meaningful,” Yakani stressed.