The Secretary General of the South Sudan Bar Association, Stephen Martin Nyichar, called on South Sudan’s judiciary and Ministry of Justice to investigate crime-related cases across the country and hold perpetrators accountable to strengthen discipline and uphold the rule of law.
Speaking on Wednesday at the close of a two-day workshop on international humanitarian law in Juba, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Nyichar stressed the importance of accountability, citing ongoing court proceedings related to the Nasir incident as an example of efforts to deliver justice.
“Justice and accountability are essential in preventing violations and restoring public confidence in the rule of law,” Nyichar said.
He also urged members of the Bar Association to support the training of military personnel on international humanitarian law to raise awareness and reduce abuses committed during conflict.
“Training security forces on humanitarian law will help prevent abuses and protect civilians during times of conflict,” he added.
Nyichar further encouraged legal practitioners to advocate for stronger enforcement mechanisms to protect communities from violations of international humanitarian law.
Caterina Trentin, a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross, welcomed the continued cooperation with the Bar Association and pledged support for future engagements.
“We are encouraged by the participation and commitment shown during this workshop and look forward to continued cooperation,” Trentin said.
One of the participants, Asunta Kwaje, said she hoped advocates would apply the knowledge gained during the training to improve protection for conflict-affected communities.
“This training equips advocates with the necessary knowledge to apply international humanitarian law for the betterment of communities,” Kwaje said.
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