Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is a covenant among the people of South Sudan and between them and their government at every level and a commitment to respect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in this Constitution; it is the cornerstone of social justice, equality and democracy.

The rights and freedoms of individuals and groups enshrined in this Bill shall be respected, upheld and promoted by all organs and agencies of Government and by all persons.

All rights and freedoms enshrined in international human rights treaties, covenants and instruments ratified or acceded to by the Republic of South Sudan shall be an integral part of this Bill.

This Bill of Rights shall be upheld by the Supreme Court and other competent courts and monitored by the Human Rights Commission.

Subject to Article 189 herein, no derogation from the rights and freedoms enshrined in this Bill shall be made. The Bill of Rights shall be upheld, protected and applied by the Supreme Court and other competent courts; the Human Rights Commission shall monitor its application in accordance with this Constitution and the law.

Every person has the inherent right to life, dignity and the integrity of his or her person which shall be protected by law; no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her life.

Every person has the right to liberty and security of person; no person shall be subjected to arrest, detention, deprivation or restriction of his or her liberty except for specified reasons and in accordance with procedures prescribed by law.

Slavery and slave trade in all form are prohibited. No person shall be held in slavery or servitude.

No person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour except as a penalty upon conviction by a competent court of law.

All persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law without discrimination as to race, ethnic origin, colour, sex, language, religious creed, political opinion, birth, locality or social status.

Every person of marriageable age shall have the right to marry a person of the opposite sex and to found a family according to their respective family laws, and no marriage shall be entered into without the free and full consent of the man and woman intending to marry.

Women shall be accorded full and equal dignity of the person with men.

Women shall have the right to equal pay for equal work and other related benefits with men.

Women shall have the right to participate equally with men in public life.

All levels of government shall: (a) promote women participation in public life and their representation in the legislative and executive organs by at least twenty-five per cent as an affirmative action to redress imbalances created by history, customs, and traditions; (b) enact laws to combat harmful customs and traditions which undermine the dignity and status of women; and (c) provide maternity and child care and medical care for pregnant and lactating women.

Women shall have the right to own property and share in the estates of their deceased husbands together with any surviving legal heir of the deceased.

Every child has the right: (a) to life, survival and development; (b) to a name and nationality; (c) to know and be cared for by his or her parents or legal guardian; (d) not to be subjected to exploitative practices or abuse, nor to be required to serve in the army nor permitted to perform work which may be hazardous or harmful to his or her education, health or well-being; (e) to be free from any form of discrimination; (f) to be free from corporal punishment and cruel and inhuman treatment by any person including parents, school administrations and other institutions; (g) not to be subjected to negative and harmful cultural practices which affect his or her health, welfare or dignity; and (h) to be protected from abduction and trafficking.

In all actions concerning children undertaken by public and private welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the paramount consideration shall be the best interest of the child.

All levels of government shall accord special protection to orphans and other vulnerable children; child adoption shall be regulated by law.

For the purposes of this Constitution, a child is any person under the age of eighteen years.

No person shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

An accused person is presumed to be innocent until his or her guilt is proved according to the law.

Any person who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his or her arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him or her.

In all civil and criminal proceedings, every person shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent court of law in accordance with procedures prescribed by law.

No person shall be charged with any act or omission which did not constitute an offence at the time of its commission.

Every accused person shall be entitled to be tried in his or her presence in any criminal trial without undue delay; the law shall regulate trial in absentia.

Any accused person has the right to defend himself or herself in person or through a lawyer of his or her own choice or to have legal aid assigned to him or her by the government where he or she cannot afford a lawyer to defend him or her in any serious offence.

The right to litigation shall be guaranteed for all persons; no person shall be denied the right to resort to courts of law to redress grievances whether against government or any individual or organization.

No death penalty shall be imposed, save as punishment for extremely serious offences in accordance with the law.

No death penalty shall be imposed on a person under the age of eighteen or a person who has attained the age of seventy.

No death penalty shall be executed upon a pregnant or lactating woman, save after two years of lactation.

The privacy of all persons shall be inviolable; no person shall be subjected to interference with his or her private life, family, home or correspondence, save in accordance with the law.

The following religious rights are guaranteed by this Constitution: (a) the right to worship or assemble in connection with any religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for these purposes; (b) the right to establish and maintain appropriate faith-based, charitable or humanitarian institutions; (c) the right to acquire, possess and own movable and/or immovable property and make, acquire and use the necessary articles and materials related to the rites or customs of religion or belief; (d) the right to write, issue and disseminate religious publications; (e) the right to teach religion or beliefs in places suitable for these purposes; (f) the right to solicit and receive voluntary financial and other contributions from individuals, private and public institutions; (g) the right to train, appoint, elect or designate by succession appropriate religious leaders called for by the requirements and standards of any religion or belief; (h) the right to observe days of rest, celebrate holidays and ceremonies in accordance with the precepts of religious beliefs; and (i) the right to communicate with individuals and communities in matters of religion and beliefs at national and international levels.

Every citizen shall have the right to the freedom of expression, reception and dissemination of information, publication, and access to the press without prejudice to public order, safety or morals as prescribed by law.

All levels of government shall guarantee the freedom of the press and other media as shall be regulated by law in a democratic society.

All media shall abide by professional ethics.

The right to peaceful assembly is recognized and guaranteed; every person shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form or join political parties, associations and trade or professional unions for the protection of his or her interests.

Formation and registration of political parties, associations and trade unions shall be regulated by law as is necessary in a democratic society.

No association shall function as a political party at the National or state level unless it has: (a) its membership open to any South Sudanese irrespective of religion, gender, ethnic origin or place of birth; (b) a programme that does not contradict the provisions of this Constitution; (c) a democratically elected leadership and institutions; and (d) disclosed and transparent sources of funding.

Every citizen shall have the right to take part in any level of government directly or through freely chosen representative, and shall have the right to nominate himself or herself or be nominated for a public post or office in accordance with this Constitution and the law.

Every citizen shall have the right to vote or be elected in accordance with this Constitution and the law.

Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of movement and the liberty to choose his or her residence except for reasons of public health and safety as shall be regulated by law.

Every citizen shall have the right to leave and or return to South Sudan.

Every person shall have the right to acquire or own property as regulated by law.

No private property may be expropriated save by law in the public interest and in consideration for prompt and fair compensation. No private property shall be confiscated save by an order of a court of law.

Education is a right for every citizen and all levels of government shall provide access to education without discrimination as to religion, race, ethnicity, health status including HIV/AIDS, gender or disability.

All levels of government shall promote education at all levels and shall ensure free and compulsory education at the primary level; they shall also provide free illiteracy eradication programmes.

All levels of government shall guarantee to persons with special needs participation in society and the enjoyment of rights and freedoms set out in this Constitution, especially access to public utilities, suitable education and employment.

The elderly and persons with special needs shall have the right to the respect of their dignity. They shall be provided with the necessary care and medical services as shall be regulated by law.

All levels of government shall promote public health, establish, rehabilitate and develop basic medical and diagnostic institutions and provide free primary health care and emergency services for all citizens.

Every citizen has the right of access to official information and records, including electronic records in the possession of any level of government or any organ or agency thereof, except where the release of such information is likely to prejudice public security or the right to privacy of any other person.

Ethnic and cultural communities shall have the right to freely enjoy and develop their particular cultures. Members of such communities shall have the right to practice their beliefs, use their languages, observe their religions and raise their children within the context of their respective cultures and customs in accordance with this Constitution and the law.

Every citizen has the right to have access to decent housing.

The State shall formulate policies and take reasonable legislative measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realization of these rights.

No one shall be evicted from his or her lawfully acquired home or have his or her home demolished save in accordance with the law.