February 2009: The literacy rate in Southern Sudan is less than 20%. Low literacy hinders the ability of people to know and assert their rights, and also stops them from improving the overall development standards of their communities.

During the decades of civil war that ravaged the country, the vast majority of people living in southern sudan were denied access to education. Currently, primary education is still at one of the lowest levels in the world; with lack of access more pronounced for the girl child.

To introduce and familiarize communities with the principles and provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), UNDP’s Access to Justice project initiated the use of creative arts techniques to spread messages from the CPA and human rights to the public, particularly those people who cannot read or do not have access to relevant publications.

Through the use of popular creative arts techniques geared to a broad audience, communities are encouraged to discuss delicate issues in a non-threatening and engaging manner.

Over the past four years, UNDP Southern Sudan’s Rule of Law Unit and the Access to Justice project have been providing information and resources on peace, reconciliation, legal options, and justice to the people of Southern Sudan. In 2007, with assistance from the European Union, the project disseminated messages on the CPA through the use of creative arts and activities to raise awareness on issues related to human rights and peaceful coexistence. Drama workshops, poetry contests, dance competitions, radio broadcasts and call-in programs are some of the effectivemeansbeingusedbytheAccesstoJusticeprojectin responding to issues such as criminality, domestic violence, rights of vulnerable groups, and means of seeking peaceful redress for disputes. This participatory method of public outreach and advocacy encourages community awareness on issues of human rights, equity, justice, and inter-communal understanding.

By training local artists and performers to use creative arts, the project promotes messages of peace and tolerance through local voices through street theatre, art, song, and other cultural modes of communication. Peace, justice and human rights promotion through creative arts incorporates a variety of local knowledge, local artistic skills, and positive messages applying the tenets of the CPA as well as the encouraging a stable and lasting peace.

A small grants component supports local community-based organizations who work to drive the creative arts activities in differentcommunitygroups. Smallgrantsofupto$15,000are provided to community based groups that will apply the funds to promote CPA dissemination through creative arts, or to organizations engaged in human rights awareness and training. At the same time, grantees will receive specifictraining in financialandprojectmanagement,substantivelegal issues, and creative arts to advance their knowledge and skills-base in popular outreach techniques.

The Access to Justice project also works to educate communities in Southern Sudan on the principles and provisions of the CPA and the transitional legal framework, including the Interim National Constitution, Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan, and the constitutions of the ten states in Southern Sudan. The project provides awareness raising opportunities through support to civil society and local community groups on means for seeking justice in their localities.

Implemented by UNDP, the Access to Justice project in Southern Sudan is funded by Denmark, European Commission, Netherlands; Swedish International Development Agencyand UNDP.