National Constitutional Review Commission kicks of Civic Education and Public Consultations in Juba

The National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) has begun civic education and public consultations with national institutions in the capital Juba on Monday.

“We have now covered the whole country that is the ten states and the three administrative areas as far as civic education and public consultations is concened.” Stated Dr. Riang Zuor, the chairpeson of the National Constitutional Review Commission.

Dr. Riang said the civic education and public consultations at the states and administrative areas were supported by the UNDP, UNWOMEN, UNMISS, JICA and Center for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice.

The NCRC chairperson further said the public consultations will target various institutions at the nationsl government level.

Monday and Tuesday this week is dedicated to the members from the Judiciary, Public Attorneys, Bar Association, Women Advocates Association, Federation of Women Lawyers among other legal professionals.

Wednesday and Thursday is dedicated to groups such as civil societies, women, youth, persons with disabilities, business people, and traditional leaders.

Friday and Saturday are for people from the media sector.

The consultations in Juba are supported by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and Max Planck Foundation.

IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan, Ambassdor Moussa Djama Ali told members at the consultations that the regional body remains committed to supporting the development of a permanent constitution.

“We hope the new constitution will help in addressing the challenges that South Sudan is currently facing.” Added Ambassador Ali.

IGAD mediated the 2018 peace accord which stipulates that a permanent constitution be made before an election is held in South Sudan.

Dr. Victoria Anib, the IGAD Head of Mission in South Sudan reiterated IGAD’s commitment to ensuring that lasting peace returns to the country.

The South Sudan’s 2018 peace agreement provides that a permanent constitution be made where one of the principles of making that constitution is supremacy of the people and a provision that no group of people in the country should be left out of the process due to reasons such as disability, geographical location and gender.

After public consultations, the NCRC is expected to employ Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDD) that will use the views collected from the public to produce first constitutional draft text, another civic education will be done and then the process will move to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) where at least 1200 people are to attend to deliberate on the first constitutional draft text, thereafter, the process will go to the parliament which will convert to the constituent assembly to pass the constitution, then the document will be taken for presidential assent.