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United Nations Development Programme assists traditional authorities in South Sudan to strengthen the local justice system
Fifty traditional authorities
from Central Equatoria
State, South Sudan, attended a justice workshop
facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Royal
Garden Hotel in Juba from 26 to 27 July 2011. The workshop
was led by the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development, now
renamed as the Ministry of Justice, and it aimed to explore issues of local
governance in South Sudan. It was part of UNDP’s commitment to provide
technical assistance, capacity building, customary law development and
infrastructure support to the Ministry of Justice of South
Sudan.
The workshop
explored ways in which traditional leaders, who play a central and respected
role in dispensing justice in the region, can contribute to the development of
a strong foundation for a united, peaceful and prosperous society, based on
justice, equality, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
According to UNDP’s
Democratic Governance programme, UNDP encourages the local government and the Law Review Commission to review
existing laws relating to issues of local governance and in particular the role of
traditional leaders. UNDP is committed to support traditional
leaders to increase their understanding of human rights and women’s justice
issues, alongside its efforts to extend the reach of formal, statutory
mechanisms throughout South Sudan.