For Immediate Release,
October 4, 2025(Nyamilepedia) — Juba, October 2nd 2025, South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) joins the global community today in commemorating the United Nations International Day of Non-Violence. This annual observance, held on 2nd October, accent the universal message that peace, justice, and sustainable development can only be realized through eschewing violence in favor of dialogue, reconciliation, and the upholding of human dignity
In South Sudan, where cycles of armed conflict and political instability have inflicted deep wounds on communities, the call for non-violence is more urgent than ever. Violence has brought untold suffering, displacements, and mistrust. It has shattered the hopes of ordinary citizens who yearn for peace and stability. On this occasion, SSHRDN calls upon all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities, lay down arms, and embrace non-violence as the only viable path towards genuine national healing and reconciliation.
James Bidal, Head of Secretariat of SSHRDN, stressed that Violence breeds only destruction. It cannot deliver peace, justice and dignity. South Sudan must now turn the page and embrace non-violence as a foundation for a more hopeful and inclusive future.
We urge all actors, including the government, opposition forces, and community leaders, to silence the guns and amplify the voices of peace. The future of South Sudan depends not on who can wield weapons, but on who can inspire reconciliation and forgiveness.”
On this International Day of Non-Violence, the SSHRDN emphatically reasserts its committal to promoting peace, advancing justice, and protecting the rights of human rights defenders and civil society. We firmly believe that through dialogue,public awareness, and genuine political commitment, South Sudan will move towards a society rooted in tolerance, mutual respect, and non-violence.
