South Sudan and its partners initiate gun- free campaign

PRESS RELEASE

18th November 2013

SPIDO appreciated the government of South Sudan with its Development partners on Friday last week initiated a community Security Caravan. This initiative will play key roles in sensitizing the community of South Sudan on the demerits of misuse of Guns and other light weapons. As peace loving citizens, local authorities, religious groups, media groups, South Sudanese civil society organizations, Government institutions at all levels with technical support from international community let us cooperate in order to ensure the effective implementation of this initiative, SPIDO is working for the supreme implementation of this campaign initiative since peace and security is still a major challenge in most parts of South Sudan.

As a result of inadequate peace and security dividends, most developments has been slow down in some parts of the Country and SPIDO has registered a lot of cases related to proliferation of Arms and miss use of guns by civilians and organized groups of criminals which has caused a lot of lives and destruction of properties in some parts of the Country.

In this regards, SPIDO has the following recommendations to be put into consideration for the successful initiative of gun-free campaign:

 Truly, the campaign should target both the ten States capitals and reach the entire target grass roots levels (Counties, payams and Boma)

 Disarmament is a key however let the government to take ultimate security for those communities who feel without arms/weapons they cannot be protected to avoid threats from either side

- Proper Accountability and transparency in carrying out disarmament and with clear objectives to avoid some communities getting rearmed this can be done through just ,fair and close supervision at all levels in the due course of the disarmament exercise to avoid human rights violations and abuses

 Politicians should positively and respectfully cooperate in this processes not inciting violence among the communities during the campaign and disarmament processes

 SPIDO appeal to the government and other key actors to plan and speedy up for the peaceful disarmament exercises while the communities should respect and respond positively by handing in their guns or weapons without coercion.

Finally if all these above mentioned are observed and with political will, SPIDO feels there will be definitely prevalence of peace and security among the communities of South Sudan as a result of the campaign and full implementation of this program or activity in the entire nation of South Sudan

SPIDO is a National Organization based in State capital Torit- Eastern Equatoria State, Republic Of South Sudan, working in the major seven thematic areas of peace & conflict mitigation, Respect for human rights & Rule of Law, Good governance, Gender mainstreaming, improve Access to Livelihood, promotion of quality Education & Health Programs across the ten states of South Sudan.

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