4 November, 2011 – In raising awareness of human rights violations and illegal crimes in communities, UNMISS completed a workshop today in Kit, Central Equatoria State.

The three-day activity, held by UNMISS Human Rights with support from the mission's Civil Affairs and Public Information sections, exposed legal inferences of violating human rights for communities as well as individuals who might be implicated in such acts.

"People commit crimes not because they do not know them, but because they deliberately refuse to follow an established system," said UNMISS Human Rights Officer and team leader Isaiah Lauro.

The workshop also focused on international and national human rights mechanisms, stressing the right to life, principle of innocence until proven guilty in a competent court, need for genuine evidence in suspected deaths by poisoning, legal and consequences of mob justice.

"While we condemn acts of poisoning, this training aims to discourage the tendency towards the use of mob justice as a means of punishing suspects," said Mr. Lauro

Sindru Popo Boma Sub-chief Binsenso Lodu Wani noted that lack of police in the area paved the way for criminals to continue committing such crimes, as no one would arrest them.

Mob justice crimes in Lobonok include corporal punishment, stoning, lynching, burning and forced eviction of suspected criminals.

"I am so happy to learn about the right to be alive today," said participant James Wani. "We can now avoid killing ourselves." He added that youth had been killing each other due to ignorance of the law.

The training drew about 241 participants from three of the 11 bomas (town areas) of Lobonok Payam (township) who were not covered by a similar session in June.

The workshop targeted chiefs, youth, elders, women and students.