27 August 2013 - Seeking to educate Unity residents about South Sudan's transitional constitution, a review commission delegation completed an eight-day visit to the state today.

Headed by Commissioner Bryan Badi, the National Constitution Review Commission (NCRC) outlined the role, content and importance of the document to residents in Koch, Pariang and Mayom counties.

The delegation also used the local radio station to receive and answer questions from listeners and met citizens and authorities in Bentiu.

Issues frequently raised by participants focused on the president removing elected governors, early marriages in the constitution, lack of services and the fact that the constitution is not translated into Arabic.

Kai John, a medical student who attended the Bentiu meeting on 25 August said, "I would like to see the NCRC taking the information to the ground level. People in the villages, in the cattle camps, have to contribute to the permanent constitution."

African National Congress party president in Unity, Simon Majak Deng, called at the same meeting for the NCRC to work at bringing the nation into the constitution. "I would call ... (for people) to come together and contribute to the permanent constitution."

According to Commissioner Badi, the current round of meetings was to explain the role and content of the constitution. "The delegates encourage people to think what they would like to be included in the constitution."

As the rainy season made trips to counties difficult, UNMISS supported the delegation with transport.

The Commission is planning to send a second mission to states in three months for public consultations and to collect written input from residents for the new constitution draft.

Unity is the last of South Sudan's 10 states to receive this round of civic education in the field by the NCRC.