15 February 2013 - It was important for South Sudanese to participate in the making of their constitution, a civil society representative said in Unity state today.

"The constitution is not for one political party or the elite group. It is for all of us," said Peter Lasu Ladu, a facilitator at two-day workshop on South Sudan's future constitution.

"When you have chance to express your views ... you will feel that part of yourself is reflected in the constitution," he said.

Some 150 participants from all nine counties in the state took part in the Citizen's Dialogue, which was organized by the South Sudan Law Society, in collaboration with non-governmental organization Justice Africa.

The participants, who included community leaders, religious leaders, women's groups and youth, reviewed the current (transitional) constitution and discussed possible changes.

One of the key topics discussed was the limits of terms for office for executive and legislative officials.

UNMISS supported the workshop by providing copies of the transitional constitution for the participants.