Members of South Sudan Bar Association during a visit to Juba Central Prison - Photo credit: Madrama James

Members of the South Sudan Bar Association this morning visited Juba Central Prison to assess and provide legal support to inmates who have been on long remand without trial, as part of activities marking Human Rights Day.

Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10 to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN General Assembly in 1948.

Advocate Viola Luka, the Legal Aid Secretary at the Bar Association, said the visit aims to ensure that inmates facing serious charges, including murder and offenses under section 205, are informed about the status of their cases.

She said some inmates with serious cases have been detained since 2021 without trial or conviction.

“We believe it is important to visit the prison to ensure that those on remand have access to justice. Additionally, those who have been released or sentenced can begin serving their jail terms. This visit also helps individuals understand the duration of their sentences, whether it’s 10 years or more.

“The primary reason for our visit is to facilitate and enable those on remand to know their case status and ensure they are supported in accessing justice,” she said.

Rexon Dukaru, a legal consultant with the Bar Association, said the Legal Aid Secretary will now assign cases to individuals on remand and advise them to either proceed to court or schedule a session.

He said the legal support is part of Human Rights Day commemorations and aims to extend assistance to inmates who cannot afford legal services.

He noted that several inmates have been on remand for a long time and remain unaware of their case status or when they will appear in court.

“We made a group discussion with some of the remand. There are those since 2021 who are in prison, who have not seen the judge or even taken to court. They don’t even know their complainants and the investigators. So that is why it is so vital for the legal aid to visit them and let them know their rights and the procedures to be taken.

“So, the legal aid secretary will now assign cases to those on remand and ask them to proceed in court. If the case is in court, at least fix the session. If the case is not in court, I’ll expedite with the investigators for the case to be taken before the judge,” he said.

The South Sudan Bar Association organized the visit as part of its activities to mark International Human Rights Day, observed annually on December 10.