The Executive Director of the Center for Inclusive Governance Peace and Justice (CIGPJ), Jackeline Nasiwa, on Monday during a visit to assess access justice for inmates at Juba Central Prison said all persons in prison have a right to dignity and access to justice.
“There are certain rights that the imprisoned have such as a court hearing within a certain amount of time and the assignment of a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice,” Nasiwa said.
She was accompanied by the Grassroots Network’s Executive Director, Sunday Moga, who cited hardships, poverty, and debts as reasons why women are being imprisoned.
Nasiwa told over 80 women in the prison that gender-based violence (GBV) is unacceptable and hoped their conditions will be improved.
According to a 2019 report by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), gender-based violence is one of the most critical threats to the protection and wellbeing of women and children in South Sudan.
At least 65 percent of women and girls in South Sudan have experienced physical and sexual violence in their lifetime, it noted.
The CIGPJ team distributed dignity kits, consisting of sanitary pads, soaps, and underwear to all the women in Juba prison.
non-partisan national Non-Governmental Organization founded by South Sudanese nationals who aspire for peaceful, prosperous, just, and inclusive society Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ) is a not for profit and non-partisan national Non-Governmental Organization founded by South Sudanese nationals who aspire for peaceful, prosperous, just and inclusive society where women, youth and other vulnerable and registered in South Sudan since 2017 where women, youth and other vulnerable and registered in South Sudan since 2017.