Wau salutes human rights defenders

16 Dec 2010

Wau salutes human rights defenders

16 December - Thousands of people from across the Bahr El-Ghazal region celebrated Human Rights Day with processions, speeches music and drama today in Wau.
Government officials from the four regional states (Warrap, Lakes and Northern as well as Western Bahr El-Ghazal), UN representatives, Sudan People's Liberation Army soldiers and area citizens marched from Peace Square to Wau stadium holding banners reading "Speak up, stop discrimination".
The slogan drew attention to the theme of this year's Day (celebrated officially on 10 December), which paid tribute to human rights defenders around the world.
"I use this opportunity to salute all human rights defenders in Sudan as well as in other parts of the world for their firm stand and commitment to human rights at any cost," Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission (SSHRC) Chairperson Lawrence Korbandi told the gathering.
He said the SSHRC had been working to defend, promote and protect fundamental human rights across Southern Sudan. The chairperson urged people to stop practising discrimination or tribalism at all levels of government as well as within the community.
The SSHRC would work to ensure that the country's 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was fully implemented, Mr. Korbandi added. His office would closely follow the upcoming referendum (on southern self-determination, scheduled for 9 January) and note its implications for citizens' rights.
"If the people of Southern Sudan opt for separation during the referendum, the SSHRC will work with the Government of Southern Sudan to promote human rights, peace and reconciliation among communities around the border areas between the north and south," the SSHRC chairperson said.
Mr. Korbandi urged both CPA partners to support formation of the Abyei Referendum Commission on time so that Abyei citizens could exercise their rights as stipulated in the peace accord.
Stressing that the defence of human rights required no professional role, Western Bahr El-Ghazal State Governor Rizik Zackaria Hassan urged all citizens to promote human right at home as well as across the region.
"Our traditions value human rights and have the power to promote and protect ... if we apply them properly...," the governor said. "As a government we always praise human rights defenders ... and we will continue to work with them to apply the bill of rights enshrined in the Southern Sudan Interim Constitution as well as universal human right conventions and declarations."
Representing UNMIS, Wau area coordinator Ibrahima Ndiaye read out the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "This Human Rights Day is an occasion to salute the courage and achievements of human rights defenders everywhere – and to pledge to do more to safeguard their work," the message read.
Organized by UNMIS Wau Human Rights unit in close collaboration with the SSHRC, the day was marked by dramas and music performed by local cultural groups, students and the area police band.