INTRODUCTION

Law can be defined as set of rules and regulations put together to guide a particular society.it
is a rule backed by authorities which governs the behaviors of the society in question.

GENERAL IMPORTANCE OF LAW IN HUMAN SOCIETY

Law whether domestic and international play an important role in human society as outlined
below:

Laws help in maintaining peace and stability in the society.

Laws help in administering and promoting justice as they are used as benchmarks for
judgments.
Laws protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedom of individuals.
Laws help in reducing or eliminating wrongdoing in the society by deterring potential
wrongdoers as they are used as basis for punishment.
Laws define the duties, obligations, and responsibilities of individuals in the society.
Laws and regulations help to control sexual immorality such as rape, defilement,
adultery etc.
Laws encourage good performance in workplace, home and learning institutions
Laws help in controlling accident e.g. traffic rules.
Laws help in preserving cultural beliefs and norms in the society.
Laws help to limit the misuse of power by leaders and those in authority such as
police officers, army officers, academic staff etc.
Laws help in improving and harmonizing relations.
Laws help in protecting the weak, disabled and the less privileged members of Society
from being exploited by the rich and the powerful.
Laws are used as basis for advocacy in the society particularly where fundamental
freedoms and rights of citizens are interfered with.
Laws help in promoting environmental conservation for sustainable development.

IMPORTANCE OF LAWS, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO

DISASTER SITUATION IN SOUTH SUDAN

Disaster is defined as a calamitous event resulting in the loss of lives, great human suffering
and distress and large scale material damage (according to ICRC).
In disaster situation, basic necessities such food, temporary shelters, medicine, water are
provided to victims of natural or man-made disaster by international and national actors that
are regulated by both national and international instrumemts.in case where actors are not
responding promptly and adequately then law provide the basis for advocacy to fulfil their
mandate under national and international laws. Failure to protect economic, social and
cultural rights can lead to massive loss of lives and great human suffering in situation of
disasters or catastrophes.

Laws also protect the vulnerable groups such women, children, the elderly during and after
the disaster.
Women need to be protected against sexual harassment, rape and other sex related
exploitation. When women are subjected to such situation human dignity is lower and
inflicted psychosocial stress on women characterized by anxiety, sleeplessness etc. hence the
need to enforce international instruments such as International Covenant On Economic,
Social, And Cultural Rights and other national laws as South Sudan NGO Acts.

Children can be subject of exploitation during disasters particularly, issues of child trafficking
and child labor thus the need for child protection. Children below 18 years are under the
protection of states and other relevant international organizations using national laws and
transnational laws hence freeing the children from inhumane practices.

Other category 0f the vulnerable groups are the elderly, who are physically weak to cope with
the situations of disaster. they are focus of relevant national and international actors thus
ensuring respect for their dignity.

Victims of disaster situation have rights to judicial rights particularly where these rights are
infringed by the authorities and other stakeholders to the disaster. the include rights to fair
trial, rights to equality before the law. This serves to deter potential wrongdoers to victims of
disaster situation thereby guaranteeing the respect for their rights.

Another common practice in situation of disaster is opportunity corruption, which is the

misuse of response resources during and after the disaster. Most of disaster response
stakeholders are corrupt thus they interfere with adequate response mechanism to the target
beneficiaries. People who are found to be corrupt should be dealt with full force of law.
humanitarian assistance will be easily mobilized when evaluation report show degree of
transparency and honesty.

Laws are important in disaster situation as they are used as basis for advocacy where these
rights are interfered with hence the need by national authorities to establish the legal
framework and ratify existing international instruments such that fundamental freedoms:
freedom of expression, freedom of movement, freedom of religion and freedom from fear and
rights of individual are respected during and after both natural and man-made disaster.

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO DISASTER SITUATION

Examples these instruments are:

South Sudan Bill of Rights
South Sudan NGO ACT
South Sudan Relief Commission Acts
INTERNATIONALAND REGIONAL CONVENTIONS, AND INSTRUMENTS
BEING APPLIED IN SOUTH SUDAN TO DISASTER SITUATION
CEDAW: Convention On the Elimination of All Form Of Discrimination Against Women
(1979)
CRC: Convention On the Rights of A Child (1989)
CRPD: Convention On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
ICESCR: International Covenant On Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)
UNCAC: United Nations Convention Against Corruption (2003)
UDHR: Universal Declaration Human Rights (1948)
GPID: Guiding Principles On Internal Displacement (1998)
ACHPR: African Charter On Human and Political Rights (1986)
ACRWC: African Charter On the Rights and Welfare of a Child (1999)
PACHPRA: Protocol to African Charter On Human and Peoples Rights On the Rights of
Women in Africa (1998)

INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES WORKING IN DISASTER SITUATION IN SOUTH

SUDAN

There are many international agencies that are operating along ministry of humanitarian
affairs and disaster management and other state actors whose focus is to save lives and human
suffering. examples of these are:
UN AGENCIES
OXFAM INTERNATIONAL
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES(CRS)
NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES
HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL
IOM
IRC ETC

Lastly, laws are importance in disaster situation because it facilitates quick and adequate
response mechanism to disaster, thereby saving human lives and suffering, protecting the
rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals and providing basis for advocacy and
punishment of those practicing opportunity corruption and other
Wrongdoers to situation of disaster.

REFERENCES
1. ACRWC: African Charter On the Rights and Welfare of a Child (1999)
2. Global protection cluster working group 2006, handbook for protection of internally
displaced persons
3. IDLO
4. IDMC
5. PACHPRA: Protocol to African Charter On Human and Peoples Rights On the
Rights of Women in Africa (1998)
6. UNICEF and Inter-Parliamentary Union 2005, Combating Child Trafficking.
Handbook for Parliamentarian