Second Workshop with Legal Counsels of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of South Sudan
From 19 to 21 March 2019, the Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of South Sudan, implemented the second workshop for legal counsels of the Ministry in Juba within the framework of the project “Strengthening the Rule of Law and Access to Justice in South Sudan”.
The three-day workshop, entitled “Fair Trial Standards: International, Regional and Domestic Perspectives”, brought together twenty-five Legal Counsels of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs from within and outside the capital, Juba. The workshop was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of South Sudan, the Honourable Martison Mathew Oturomoi, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of South Sudan, the Honourable James Mayen Oka, who both emphasised the importance of the workshop topic and encouraged the participants to take advantage of such a training opportunity.
The workshop provided a comprehensive introduction to the various legal principles and standards of fair trial rights from international, regional and domestic perspectives. Topics discussed included: fair trial rights during the pre-trial and trial phases; fair trial rights under international humanitarian law and international criminal law; and derogations from fair trial rights. The participants were also engaged in discussions on fair trial rights as contained in South Sudanese legal instruments, while deliberating on select jurisprudence from specific regional courts and tribunals.
The overall aim of this European Union-funded project is to improve the rule of law landscape in South Sudan, thereby contributing to its development as a stable and peaceful country.