18 February 2015 - Seeking to empower community leaders in its protection area, UNMISS in the Upper Nile State capital Malakal today concluded a two-day human rights training.

Organized in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency and non-governmental organization INTERSOS, the training was aimed at equipping leaders with human rights knowledge for use in mitigating or resolving disputes.

“Our close engagement with the community will enable us to tackle minor cases in our capacity as traditional chiefs and elderly people within the (protection sites),” said one elder, Yohana Chuol Bol.

He added that intensive training on human rights was required, as many disputes broke out among communities in the protection site last year.

The workshop, opened by UNMISS State Coordinator Deborah Schein, covered areas like human rights basic principles, traditional and statutory justice systems, conflict mitigation, dispute resolution and child rights.

“We have many vulnerable people such as the elderly, pregnant women and children who expect care from us, especially in areas of rights,” said Josephine James, another elder.

Next week, a similar exercise is expected to kick off in Melut, another UNMISS base in Upper Nile State hosting internally displaced people.

“It is good to empower the community leaders (so that they can) extend the message on issues related to rights of vulnerable people within the (protection site),” said UNMISS Human Rights Officer Kwachkwan Tipo.