26 March 2015 - Representatives of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Protection of Civilian (PoC) sites in Bentiu, Unity State, today concluded a two-day training aimed at addressing human rights concerns in the community.

The training was attended by 60 participants drawn from community leaders, women’s groups, community watch groups and members of informal mediation and dispute resolution teams within the PoCs.

Topics addressed included the UNMISS human rights mandate, bill of rights, security and justice within the PoC, traditional conflict resolution mechanisms and the role of women in peace building as well as the impact of customary laws on rights of women and girls.

Guy Nijke, an UNMISS Human Rights Officer in Unity State, said , “As representatives of the IDPs, you should always inform us about any human rights violations to make sure that they are being investigated and that violators are held accountable.”

He urged participants to review traditions and practices that could be harmful to individuals or contradictory to human rights principles stipulated in and upheld by the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan.

He also called on participants, as community leaders, to be more mindful of future generations while serving their communities.