The UN peacekeeping mission’s Human Rights Division in South Sudan on Tuesday organized a workshop for over 30 SPLA officers on human rights protection.

The workshop organized in the capital Juba is meant to emphasize the need for military officers to observe and respect human rights.

 “We have invited a number of 30 SPLA officers to attend this training, use it really because it is important that SPLA soldiers are really fully aware of their obligations in terms of respect for Human Rights,” said Eugene Nindorera, UNMISS Director for Human Rights.

 Nindorera emphasized on the need to train soldiers because they are protecting people and not violating citizens’ rights.

 “We strongly hope that the impact of this workshop will reduce and one of the key objectives is to make sure those who are involved in human rights violations are going to be held accountable, because one of the issue we have observed is that there are many violations, but there are no many people who have been prosecuted and arrested and brought to the court,” he said.

He further said the training will be a continuous process across the country.

File photo: 45 SPLA officers attend workshop against recruitment of children in the armed forces in June, 2016 (Credit: UNMISS)