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UN PhotoUNMISS / MILITARY JUSTICE DIRECTORY
STORY: UNMISS / MILITARY JUSTICE DIRECTORY
TRT: 03:20
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 15 MARCH 2024, MARIDI, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, assessment process, Maridi division six
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mama Sarah Bennert, women’s representative:
“We have a lot of issues facing us here as women. Sometimes you report a case and justice has been delayed and you remain very disappointed and without any help.
3. Various shots, assessment process, Maridi division six
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mama Sarah Bennert, women’s representative:
“Now, with the presence of the assessment team on the ground we hope all those cases they have taken note of will go to trial because some of us who have pending cases are traumatized.”
5. Various shots, assessment process, Maridi division six
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Emmanuel Lodah, civil society activist:
“Now we understand that there is nobody above the law. We have a lot of cases being assessed now, and as community members we are very happy with this initiative. We wish it should not be a yearly program but rather every three months because we have some people who remain in detention for a long time and then, after trial, you find out that he or she is not guilty of the crime.”
7. Various shots, assessment process, Maridi division six
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Peter Malual Deng Lual, Judge Advocate:
“We are assessing between 20 and 24 cases.”
9. Various shots, assessment process, Maridi division six
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Peter Malual Deng Lual, Judge Advocate:
“We are not here to conduct trials, only to assess the pending cases of those who are in detention and those who may have committed crimes against civilians.”
11. Wide shot, community consultative session
12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Peter Malual Deng Lual, Judge Advocate:
“Our door at division six barracks is open to anyone who wants to report crimes.”
13. Various shots, assessment process, Maridi division six
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Idrissa Sylvaine, Justice Advisor, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):
“The assessment will help to promote the rule of law, to bring justice to victims and hold accountable SSPDF members. The assessment will also contribute to the peace process in South Sudan.”
15. Wide shot, community consultative session
Supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), a team from South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) Justice Directorate concluded a mission in Maridi to assess pending cases at the army division six.
Their work will enable the prosecution of members of the armed forces who are suspected of having committed serious crimes, including sexual and other forms of gender-based violence.
According to Mama Sarah Bennert, an activist and women’s representative, this represents a sign of justice and accountability.
She said, “We have a lot of issues facing us here as women. Sometimes you report a case and justice has been delayed and you remain very disappointed and without any help.”
She continued, “Now, with the presence of the assessment team on the ground we hope all those cases they have taken note of will go to trial because some of us who have pending cases are traumatized.”
Other civil society activists also commended the work of the assessment mission.
Emmanuel Lodah, civil society activist, said, “Now we understand that there is nobody above the law. We have a lot of cases being assessed now, and as community members we are very happy with this initiative. We wish it should not be a yearly program but rather every three months because we have some people who remain in detention for a long time and then, after trial, you find out that he or she is not guilty of the crime.”
The visiting assessment team calls on the civil population to always report cases of suspected crimes to further enhance accountability.
Peter Malual Deng Lual, Judge Advocate, said, “We are assessing between 20 and 24 cases. We are not here to conduct trials, only to assess the pending cases of those who are in detention and those who may have committed crimes against civilians.”
He added, “Our door at division six barracks is open to anyone who wants to report crimes.”
This initiative aimed to promote accountability among the armed forces.
Idrissa Sylvaine, UNMISS Justice Advisor said that the assessment will help to promote the rule of law, to bring justice to victims and hold accountable SSPDF members who committed crimes.
According to Sylvaine, the assessment will also contribute to the peace process in South Sudan.”
