Viola is a 15 year old girl who was jailed in Juba for allegedly killing her neighbor. She spent over two years in prison without any formal charges and despite the signing of a Child Act in Southern Sudan which prohibits the incarceration of children. Viola's story was reported by Radio Miraya journalist Chance Baniko to mark International Human Rights Day in southern Sudan on Dec 10, 2009, under the theme "Embrace Diversity and End Discrimination".

Following the story's broadcast authorities released Viola on 21st December 2009, from detention. Viola was joyous. Since that day, Chance Baniko  has produced four more stories about other incarcerated youth and so far, three of these children have been released. But there are still many more children in Juba's prisons whose cases have not yet been attended to.

TRANSCRIPT 

[Police band rehearsing one of the favorite tunes of fellowships sung in juba prisons, which is one of the sources of inspiration to incarcerated inmates.]

 The stories of inmates in Juba prisons are diverse, but one of particular concern is the story of Viola Juan who was incarcerated at 13 years old.

Viola was a baby sitter in Juba Na Bari residential area. She had a friend in the neighborhood who would visit her occasionally for a chat.

One day, the mother of her friend approached Viola and accused her of spoiling her daughter. A fight broke out between Viola and her friend's mother. A few days later, the woman died.

The next morning the police apprehended Viola, and locked her in. She has since remained in detention without being charged. Viola has little hope of being set free. She explains how she was incarcerated:

"I was a baby sitter and a friend of mine in the neighborhood used to visit me. One day my friend's mother came over and accused me of spoiling her daughter. A fight broke out between us, I never punched her, and she threw me down.
I was arrested by the police and detained. I was accused of having killed the woman, and imprisoned on 10-jan-2008. I have no relatives to visit me. I eat prisons' food. The accuser has since  disappeared."

Although the doctor's autopsy report revealed that the woman died of natural causes, Viola has remained in detention for the last two years.

I spoke to the inspector of the Human Rights Comission about how this story caught their attention.  
"As a human rights inspector, it is my duty to inspect the prisons and police facilities to know what is going on. That is when I came across the story of this young girl who was imprisoned at 13. As I speak now she is almost 16 years of age. All this time she has been incarcerated with no possibility of trial in sight."

The incarceration of the this young lady who has turned 15 this year has caused much concern amongst the Central Equatoria State Assembly legislators.

"I really thank Miraya FM for having gone to the prisons to see Viola, and I'm sure with all these events, Viola will be asked to come out. Viola is underage, secondly as the post mortem of the lady whom they said the death might have been caused by Viola, and since the doctor have already found out that the lady died of different sickness, I feel that Viola is to be released. She got in jail when she was 13 years old, and now she is 15 years old, to make the future of this girl she has to be released, so that she goes back to school."

"This lady is a minor and imprisoned at a young age. This is unacceptable and uncalled for. No one should be imprisoned for unknown reasons. They should have conducted a thorough investigation to punish the offender according to the crime committed if she is guilty, but now who will account for the two years she has been imprisoned."

"The way she has been kept now for two years is a real violation of human rights, because if the law cannot protect minors, if the law cannot protect children, if the law cannot protect citizens, then of course we are in for a very rough time."

The interim constitution of Southern Sudan, and the Child Act signed by the President of the Government of Southern Sudan all ban the incarceration of children. It remains to be seen whether or not authorities will implement these laws.