The government of South Sudan should amend the National Security Service Act which grants the outfit unchecked powers to arrest or detain suspects, human rights defenders said over the weekend.
The call emerged during a high-level panel discussion organized by the South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) to strengthen dialogue between government, stakeholders, and civil society on the promotion of human rights.
The event was held in Juba as part of the sixty-ninth ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights taking place from November 15 – December 5.
James Bidal, the head of the SSHRDN secretariat, urged the government to open civic space as guaranteed in the transitional constitution of South Sudan and refrain from frustrating advocacy efforts to reclaim the shrinking civic space. He said human rights defenders operate in an increasingly hostile environment.
“We call on the government of the Republic of South Sudan to respect the rights of its citizens to peacefully assemble, associate, and express opinions and views and to strengthen the legal framework that allows citizens and civil society organizations to form and operate without any hindrances,” Bidal said.
According to a press statement by the SSHRDN, a decade after South Sudan attained independence, restrictions to human rights and fundamental freedoms have led to shrinking civic space as the environment in which citizens organize and participate in governance has remained hostile.
“This is despite provisions contained in the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, regional and international treaties that guarantee the respective human rights,” the release read in part.
The SSHRDN recommended that the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights should follow up on its Resolution 428 and adopt a resolution that, among others condemns all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in South Sudan, including attacks against journalists, human rights defenders, members of civil society organizations and humanitarian workers.
“Urges the government of the Republic of South Sudan to urgently initiate the measures required for the implementation of Chapter V of the R-ARCSS for the establishment of a Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing as well as the Hybrid Court for South Sudan,” the statement said.
The SSHRDN also requests the country rapporteur for South Sudan to engage with the African Union Commission and the government of South Sudan with proposals on the operationalization of Chapter V of the revitalized peace agreement.
“Urge legal reforms pertaining to civic space, amending the National Security Service Act, which grants the National Security Service unchecked powers to summon, investigate and take particulars and depositions from any suspect and potential witness; arrest and detain suspects of crimes related to national security,” the statement concluded.