29 August 2013 – Aiming to reduce subjective and unlawful detentions in Jonglei State, UNMISS in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the State's Legal Administration conducted a one-day forum today in the State capital Bor.

The meeting was attended by more than 23 participants drawn from UN agencies, South Sudan Human Rights Commission, Jonglei State Legal Administration, John Garang Memorial University and non-governmental organizations.

During the session, participants held in-depth discussions on legal measures about bail and bail bond; including unlawful arrests, denial to grant the accused bail or bail bond, and mechanisms on how to end such practices.

During the forum, UNMISS Judicial Affairs Officer Mike Dzakuma said that the discussion on bail and bail bond was a continuation of the efforts made by UNMISS and partners to sensitive the public on the importance of the issue.

"Today's discussion on bail and bail bond is meant to sensitize the public on their rights as far as granting of bails by the courts and rule of law officers are concern".

He said that the forum was open to the general public, and his unit is hoping that topics of the session would be disseminated further by the media in order to reach out to the grass-root community.

According to Mr. Dzakuma, UNMISS would organize similar forum next month on 26 September.

Meanwhile, Jonglei State's deputy head of Legal Administration Kuot Alith said the rule of law forum was meant to enlighten the people of the State about the importance of the law.

He added that the topics which were discussed during the forum correspond with the South Sudan's court of criminal procedures.

"In our constitution, South Sudan's court of criminal procedures act of 2008; there are some cases where the accused cannot be granted bail, serious crimes like bribery and sexual assault" Alith said.

The rule of law forum was organized by UNMISS and UNDP as a mechanism to enhance peaceful resolution of conflicts in South Sudan. And in Jonglei State, such meetings seek to provide ways of resolving disputes among the warring communities.