South Sudan trains over 90 judicial officials for referendum

By Ngor Arol Garang

December 10, 2010 (JUBA) – Authorities from the government of south Sudan said Friday that 90 legal counsels have been trained to preside over objections, appeals and contraventions filed against conduct of the region;s independence referendum in accordance with the South Sudan Referendum Commission 2009 Act.

The training which commenced on December 6 and ended on Friday was organized by the south Sudan South Supreme Court in collaboration with the Juba based referendum bureau and the United Nations Integrated Referendum and Electoral Division (UNIRED).

The five-day training for the Judiciary of South Sudan targeted practicing judges and legal counsels and the judicial clerks supporting operation. Held separately, the judges training was held at the New York Hotel, and the judicial clerks’ workshop at Oasis Camp Hotel, both in the regional capital of Juba.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune shortly after attending closing session, Justice Madol Arol, a senior judge said the training held under the theme “The Role of the Judiciary in Ensuring is Free, Fair and Credible Southern Sudan Referendum Process,” was to prepare judges to handle complaints and objections arising from the upcoming referendum results.

“The main objective of this training is to enhance the capacities of Judges selected to preside on objections, appeals and contraventions filed in accordance with the Southern Sudan Referendum Act 2009. The second objective is to share experiences and lessons learned from similar adjudication processes,” explained Madol.

The long serving professional Judge said a total of 45 Judges drawn from the ten states of South Sudan participated during the five days training and were briefed on various topics which include, Strategies for effective adjudication of Corrupt and Illegal practices and offences during the Southern Sudan Referenda; the legal and administrative framework of the Referendum process; the timelines which include Registration, Exhibition, Objections and Appeals, Polling and Counting; and the role of the Competent Courts in the Southern Sudan Referendum process; among others.

He also said five judges and advocates from different countries facilitated the training. “This training was very important indeed. It will equip our judges with knowledge gained during the training period”, said Madol.

He said the five judges and advocates from the Netherlands, Uganda and Kenya who facilitated the training, had a good reputation and hold leadership in the International Criminal Court, the East African Court of Justice and within the judiciaries of their respective countries. “It is, therefore, expected that the judges will be better prepared to execute their mandated functions fairly, effectively and expeditiously to all,” explained Madol.

He said explained that the aim of the training of the Judicial Clerks was to equally enhance the knowledge base of Judicial Clerks on the referendum process and to equip them with skills required to support the Judges who will adjudicate objections and appeals.

According to him, a total of 34 Judicial Clerks from the ten states of South Sudan participated in the five day workshop. Some of the main areas covered include Standards for judicial conduct, ethics and integrity among judicial support staff, report writing and case data collection; the role of judicial support staff, role in case management, initiation and handling of court documents, and the role of the competent courts in the Southern Sudan referendum process.

He said participants at the workshop were provided with accurate and up to date information on the referendum process, including an overview of polling, sorting, counting, aggregation/ declaration of results procedures as per the referendum act. Like judges, clerks to the judiciary have been equipped with the skills required to provide support to the objections and appeals adjudication process in a more effective and accurate manner, explained Madol.

(ST)