25 November 2013 - Aiming to educate traditional chiefs about the justice system and Local Government Act, UNMISS and partners concluded a three-day training today in Malakal, Upper Nile State.

Held in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Law enforcement as well as Pact South Sudan, the activity was attended by 57 chiefs and two members of the Council of Traditional Authority (COTAL), mainly from Nasser County.

The workshop focused on harmonizing formal and traditional justice systems and the local Government Act, basic human rights principles, jurisdiction of customary law courts, gender issues and juvenile justice.

“I learned a lot from this training, especially acknowledging the rights of people regardless of their gender and positions -- all are equal before the law,” said Wanding Payam (district) Chief Koang Miyong Guandong.

Nyatok Gatkek Kerjiok, speaker of the local Legislative Assembly, said, “Now I know my jurisdiction according to the law beside the Council of Traditional Authority.”

UNMISS Nasser County Coordinator Grzegorz Kuchrcpczyk acknowledged the role traditional chiefs played as fundamental sources of change. “Let’s make this county an example for peace, good governance and democracy for generations to come.”

The director for traditional authority at the Ministry of Local Government, Paul Adiang Yor, urged participants to abide at all times rule of law as stipulated in the Local Government Act, which categorized roles of different courts and areas of jurisdiction.