The UNMISS Human Rights Division in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State today donated hundreds of publications to the Legislative Assembly in the state capital Aweil.

UNMISS State Coordinator, Koliab Nahataba, handed over a total of 228 publications in English and Arabic, covering various Human Rights subjects spanning a range of 42 different categories.

The donated books, papers, journals and pamphlets included titles like “International Legal Protection of Human Rights in Armed Conflict”, “Core International Human Rights Treaties”, “The Right to Water Fact Sheet No. 35”, “The Right to Adequate Food Fact Sheet No. 34”, “The Code of Evidence Act 2006” and “The Code of Civil Act 2007”.

“I believe these books will move the Assembly members from where they are to (a more knowledgeable level) because they (will be) enriched with information,” said State Legislative Assembly Speaker Isaac Makau Ayok.

The chairperson of the Legal and Human Rights Committee in the Assembly, Garang Mawien Mawien, said UNMISS would enjoy the legacy as a founder of the parliament’s library.

“This is the first time to introduce a library here,” he said. “It is going to be (recorded in) history that UNMISS is the founder of this library.”

Reiterating UNMISS’ support, Mr. Nahataba said the donation was "a small token" which he believed would provide a good beginning with resource materials for reference and self-awareness for members of the Assembly.

He added that he hoped the publications would help to enlighten the parliamentarians and ensure that legislative functions conform to Human Rights standards.

“We believe that they will form a major contribution to the quality of debate in the house, to legislation that will be forthcoming from those debates, and to the very important role of oversight to all state institutions,” he said.