Netherlands donates $14.14 million for judicial reforms

The Kingdom of Netherlands yesterday signed a $14.14 million cooperation agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to enhance access to Justice, Security, and strengthen human rights in South Sudan.

The agreement is expected to run for four years to support the revitalized peace agreement on issues of the constitution, law reforms, and justice sector reform, chapter two on security reform, and chapter five on transitional justice.

According to the UNDP, the project will be implemented in eight states, namely: Upper Nile, Unity State, Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Lakes State, Jonglei, Central Equatoria, Western and Northern Bahr-El-Gazal.

The UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Samuel Doe told the media after the event that the new grant will help in implementing chapters one and five of the revitalized peace agreement.

Past deal

It is the second deal after a 2014 cooperation agreement involving $12.355,430, which was also signed by UNDP and the Kingdom of Netherlands to support the same course. 

“We are signing a four-year program beginning in August to October of 14, 355,430 United States dollars,” Doe said.

He said UNDP would continue to work with the government as a development partner to ensure people leave peacefully and in a just, peaceful, and accountable society. 

Dr. Doe said part of the money would be used to support the ongoing effort of the government in terms of strengthening institutional capacities in the country.

“For example, the police need to be extended to the community stage. Do they need a police post, do they need some equipment or some training and capacity development? Those are the areas the program is looking at,” Dr. Doe disclosed. 

Meanwhile, the deputy ambassador of the Netherlands and head of cooperation in South Sudan, Jan Huesken, also stressed the importance of access to justice and rule of law which he said was fundamental to any developing society like South Sudan.

He said the Kingdom of Netherlands will unlock its doors to support development programs that South Sudan needs to achieve its potential.

“We are so happy to be here today because any developing society needs a rule of law basis, access to very transparent regulations and laws to guide and stimulate the process,” Huesken remarked. 

“You need to enlighten our professionals to celebrate the human rights and make sure that every South Sudanese can celebrate and experience the human rights he is legally entitled to,” he added in a statement.

Huesken urged the government to be constant in building personal practices into the common laws to allow people to do farming and avoid violence.

“Everybody has equal access to justice to seek redress if they feel aggrieved if they have not been listened to and they have not been in wrongdoing in this sense,’’ he said, adding: “the rule of law would have to supply this and that is why we are signing this contract.’’

The Director-General in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Joseph Marko who witnessed the signing of the cooperation agreement on behalf of the government welcomed the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to strengthen the justice system in the country.

He said limited access to justice is one of the major factors of conflict and violence in South Sudan because where there is no rule of law people tend to violate the rights of others.

“We in South Sudan and the rule of law sector, we are committed to working with UNDP to achieve rule of law and sustainable human rights,” Marko affirmed the government’s commitment.