Program

In support of the ongoing implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which is the basis of ensuring long lasting peace and democracy in Southern Sudan, RCN Justice & Démocratie’s (RCN) programme in Southern Sudan built the capacity of legal and judicial officers from the Judiciary of Southern Sudan (JoSS), the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development (MoLACD) in Southern Sudan.

The primary objective of RCN in Southern Sudan is to contribute to an effectively functioning Southern Sudanese justice system by improving the capacity and competences of justice actors. To this end, RCN through its project, “Assistance to Southern Sudanese justice system by establishing improved human resource capacity and reinforced operational capacity” has trained judges, prosecutors and legal support staff from across the ten provinces of Southern Sudan. The project was financed by the European Commission and the Belgian Government, and is based in Juba.

Whilst other rule of law actors are providing various capacity building and infrastructure support to the justice actors and institutions, they have acknowledged that RCN fills an important gap in offering elementary legal training in English where in judicial and legal actors are oriented towards the common law system/principles. This is not offered by any other organisation or institution.

Having already effectively implemented a project in Southern Sudan, other rule of institutions and commissions have requested RCN to implement similar programmes for their staff. The Southern Sudan Police Service has requested RCN to build the capacity of police officers attached to the Legal Advisor’s Unit. RCN Therefore, both MoLACD and Southern Sudan Police Service (SSPS) have recognised the value and benefits of RCN’s training and have requested RCN to continue with the training so as to enable other prosecutors/legal counsel, police legal officers and support staff to benefit from the success of the 2007-2008 capacity building programme.

Objectives of the Programme

Overall objectives
 Reinforce the rule of law in Southern Sudan
 Contribute to the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
 Prevent future conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence in Southern Sudan

Specific objective
 Contribute to an effectively functioning Southern Sudanese justice and law enforcement system

Main activities
 Elementary Training for prosecutors/legal counsel
 Elementary Training for SSPS legal officers
 Elementary Training for SSPS and MoLACD support staff
 Development and distribution of legal training manuals in basic common law principles and procedure pertinent to Southern Sudan, as well as in professional skills and legal English
 Establishment of a comprehensive database of legal qualifications, competences, and continuous training needs of recipients of RCN training
 Round Table Discussions/”Study Visits” for various justice actors
 Basic logistical support for all training participants and their institutions

Partners
 Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development (MoLACD)
 Judiciary of Southern Sudan (JoSS)
 Southern Sudanese Police Service (SSPS)
 Ministry of Internal Affairs
 Ministry of SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Army) Affairs
 Southern Sudan Human Rights commission

Beneficiaries
 Prosecutors/legal counsel, support staff, advocates from MoLACD
 Legal officers and support staff in the SSPS
 Southern Sudanese members of the public seeking recourse or subject to the justice and law enforcement system