The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Friday commemorated the International Human Rights Day with the community of Maleng-Agok under the theme: “Stand up for someone’s rights today.”

Speaking at the event, UNMISS Head of Field Office in Rumbek, Mr. Kwame Dwamena Aboagye, dismissed the notion and perception that human rights are alien to South Sudan.

“Human right is not something that has been brought somewhere by someone else; human rights are universal and inherent. Anybody in this world deserves them irrespective of all forms of divides. We should not therefore kill ourselves on simple issues that should be handled by law,” Kwame stated.

Women’s representative Ms. Mary Alukthiai decried continuous violations of women’s rights.

“Our rights as women and human beings are being violated everyday by men, we are not allowed to express ourselves, our daughters are not allowed to go to school or finish their studies, our girls are forcefully married off even before attaining the age of adulthood,” Ms. Alukthiai lamented.

The State Minister of Health, Mr. Archangel Deng Kwok, expressed his support for the government’s plan to strengthen law enforcement agencies to ensure respect for human rights.

“When we have a strong police, prison service and judiciary; these rampant violations and abuses of rights will cease immediately. We are working on strengthening these institutions to ensure respect, promotion and upholding of human rights as enshrined in our two constitutions (state and national constitutions)”.

The day was also commemorated with music, traditional dances and much rejoicing.