The executive director of a local non-governmental organization, the Support Peace Initiative Development Organization (SPIDO) has called on the transitional government to expedite the funding for the constitution-making process.
Speaking on Thursday at the opening of a two-day workshop on the constitution-making process, Wodcan Savior Lazarus urged the government to promptly allocate resources to the National Constitution Review Commission (NCRC) to ensure smooth progress.
“My message to the government is that there is a need to expedite the funding process to the NCRC such that they can execute their mandate within the extended transitional period to pave the way for the general elections,” he said. “Today, SPIDO with the funding support from UNDP Access to Justice, Human Rights, Security Strengthening Program, is conducting activity on the examination of the Constitution-making Process Act 2022. This is the last activity whereby we are looking at the stakeholders’ recommendations and commitments regarding the constitution-making process.”
The workshop organized by SPIDO brought together about 50 individuals from civil society groups, persons with disability, youth, and women among others.
Savior called on international organizations such as UNDP to continue supporting the constitution-making process in South Sudan, especially by rendering financial assistance to the government.
“We need to continue appealing to stakeholders, particularly our donors, to continue supporting this process,” he said. “That is why we are very happy for UNDP for giving this funding. Had it not because of them, our people were not going to be aware of this Constitution-making Process Act 2022.”
According to the civil society representative, the process of public consultations and civic education requires financial support to run smoothly.
“The ordinary citizens need to take this process seriously, especially when civic education and public consultations start,” Savior stated. “They need to take it seriously because it is the only opportunity for their voices can be heard.”