(December 3, 2013) The National Legislative Assembly Tuesday ratified the United Nations' convention against torture.

South Sudan became the 155th country to commit to the measures to prevent acts of torture or other forms of cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.

Hon. Gabriel Guot Guot, deputy chairperson for the Human Rights Committee in the assembly, said the convention directs the government to take action against torture in any jurisdiction in the country.

“These include ensuring that torture is made a criminal offense and establishing jurisdiction to try cases of torture committed by or against any citizens.”

The Leader of the Minority, Onyoti Adigo Nyikwech, said that the national security organs need to be educated to uphold the aims of the new convention

“There is a need for education when we passed this convention, especially (of) the security organs, because some of our security organs do not respect this,” he said “So as far as we are going to ratify this, I think there is need for education of our people so that they know exactly how they treat their own people.”

The UN convention against torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment was adopted by the UN general assembly in 1984.