Guya Scopas Bethuel
After three days of intense discussions and learning, more than 30 judges and magistrates from across South Sudan concluded a training in Juba on Friday that focused on placing survivors at the heart of justice.
Organized by the Center for Inclusive Governance, Peace, and Justice with support from Norwegian People’s Aid, the workshop brought together judges from all the states; 25 men and 7 women who examined how to better respond to cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and transitional justice.
The training emphasized a survivor-centered approach, encouraging judges to consider the rights, needs, and voices of survivors throughout the legal process. Participants also reviewed key legal frameworks, including South Sudan’s national laws, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the Maputo Protocol.
For many judges, the sessions were timely and deeply relevant. Second-grade Judge Achol Dau Atem of Juba County Court described the training as both refreshing and challenging.
“The training on international and regional instruments such as CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol needs to continue,” Judge Achol said. “We also need to learn how to practically apply them in our courts. Without an Anti-GBV bill, it is difficult to deliver full justice to victims. Judges also need trauma training to truly understand what survivors go through when testifying.”
Judge Achol added that court staff, including police, must also be trained to handle sensitive cases in a respectful and trauma-informed way.
Justice William Kaya Pacifico, Director of Training and Scientific Research, reassured participants that the judiciary is prioritizing capacity building.
“The Chief Justice is keen on continuous training. This is just the beginning. In the coming weeks and months, you will be invited again to take part in more courses in different fields,” Kaya told the judges.
From the civil society side, Jackline Nasiwa, Executive Director of the Center for Inclusive Governance, Peace, and Justice, encouraged the judges to keep reading the material provided and applying the knowledge gained.
“We work across all ten states and administrative areas,” Nasiwa said. “Our collaboration with the judiciary will ensure that the impact of these trainings reaches communities at the grassroots level.”
Closing the training, Justice Stephen Simon Benjingwa, who represented Chief Justice Benjamin Baak Deng, urged judges to be courageous in their duties.
“The position of a judge is not for somebody who is a coward,” he said. “We are entering a new era where the judiciary must be different from the past. People need to feel that justice is being delivered to all.”
As the judges left Yam Hotel, the atmosphere was one of renewed commitment. For many, the training was more than just a seminar it was a reminder of the heavy responsibility they carry and the urgent need to make South Sudan’s justice system more survivor-centered, accountable, and accessible.