A two-day orientation and advocacy workshop on the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) concluded sessions on Thursday at Juba Regency Hotel. The workshop drew participants from the civil society, women and youth groups, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism, Strategic Defense and Security Review Committee, and the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing Technical Committee.

Addressing the opening session, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) Chief of Staff, His Excellency, Ambassador Berhanu Kebede, lauded the role of the civil society in the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS). “This orientation workshop will play a very important role in training and will also provide an opportunity for you to play a role in the implementation of the agreement,” said Ambassador Berhanu Kebede

He further explained that the orientation workshop “aims to equip all of you with a more robust understanding of the agreement considering the recurring challenges we face in its implementation. We hope it will also contribute in empowering you to effectively participate, advocate, and strategically engage all the parties and other stakeholders to ensure the full implementation and ultimately the realization of enduring peace, stability and democracy in the Republic of South Sudan.”

Chairperson of the Civil Society Alliance representative Mr. Akuoch Ajang Nyanhom urged all stakeholders to be the ambassadors of peace and that they should work hard to disseminate the peace agreement to the grassroots through civic education.

UNDP representative, Mr. Lealem Berhanu Dinku stated that “the key focus of this workshop is to enhance the functional knowledge and orientation of civil society organizations to influence policy dialogue, agenda-setting and decision-making processes in the ARCSS transitional mechanisms.”  He reiterated UNDP’s commitment to partner with the civil society, adding that “We shall continue to work with you in your pursuit for peace and development because UNDP strongly believes that there can be no peace without development and no development without peace”.

Addressing the closing session, JMEC Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Lt General Augostino Njoroge emphasized the importance of ARCSS for peace in South Sudan “the Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan is a foundation stone upon which sustainable peace can be built in this county. For this to happen the civil society must collectively and continuously advocate the rights of the ordinary citizens without fear or favor, and be a watchdog against violations of human rights.”  He urged the participants to educate the population on their rights and responsibilities and hold leaders accountable.