South Sudan
Context
South Sudan, a country ravaged by intercommunal conflict and widespread abuses by security forces and armed groups, continues to face dire humanitarian crises, with the United Nations warning that food insecurity has reached an all-time high since its independence in 2011. The political disagreements at national level mainly manifest at subnational level, where conflict and insecurity are ongoing, also as a result of intercommunal fighting over land and resources. The population of South Sudan also suffers from its weak economy and rising inflation. For the JF partners, the extension of the transitional period provides more time to lobby for a people-centred Security Sector Reform (SSR) processes and inclusive transitional justice and electoral processes. The launch of national consultations on transitional justice processes has created new opportunities for JF partners to influence and advocate.
Regions
The Just Future Alliance and its local partners are active in 9 sites in 5 states (Yei in Central Equatoria; Kapoeta and Nimule in Eastern Equatoria; Bor in Jonglei; Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal; Magwi, Mundri, Torit, and Yambio in Western Equatoria), consistent with the “hubs of stability” defined in the MACS 2019-22, with advocacy actions in Juba.
Activities in 2022
Providing a voice for constituencies by enabling communities to have a say in security decision-making processes and advocating for women and youth’s representation in Police Community Relations Committees, informing campaigns for more accountable and rights-based policing.
JF partners have been very involved in the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH), through mobilizing input from constituencies, participation in sub-national and national consultative meetings as well as in the technical Transitional Justice Working Group.
the JF partners focused on women’s representation and successfully campaigned for the full implementation of the gender quota in the revived peace agreement. An annual Women Gathering was held, which agreed on a roadmap for civil society organizations’ role in the South Sudan National Action Plan.
OUTCOMES
- State security institutions collaborate with communities in conflict zones, consult with the most excluded constituencies, and develop a mechanism of accountability better service
- Primary stakeholders’ capacities are strengthened, and they take ownership of local and regional security governance mechanisms
- Needs and aspirations of communities are addressed by security governance actors, which adopt measures to include most excluded constituencies in the decision-making bodies of the security apparatus
- Create communication channels between key security actors and communities
- Strengthen capacities of communities and CSOs on lobbying & advocacy, monitoring, evaluation
- National and regional lobby & advocacy
- Technical support
- Training of security actors on human rights standards
- Supporting media for greater transparency and accountability
- Access to justice services for the most excluded constituencies improved
- Collaboration and coordination between statutory and customary justice actors strengthened
- Primary stakeholders equipped to advocate for the inclusion of most excluded constituencies
- Promote and strengthen the exchange between various justice actors
- Support local CSOs, community leaders and local authorities to promote the application of formal justice for conflict resolution
- Technical support to judicial institutions on reforms and policies to improve accountability
- Training justice actors (customary, statutory and religious) to comply with human rights standards
- Support creation of community accountability systems
- Strengthen capacities of communities and CSOs on lobbying & advocacy, monitoring, evaluation
- Supporting media for greater transparency and accountability
- Create relationships with international organizations for international advocacy
- Facilitate access of rural communities to courts and legal services (transport, mobile courts)
- Primary stakeholders equipped to advocate for the inclusion of most excluded constituencies
- Local, regional and national actors implement ratified national, regional and international commitments on inclusion
- Most excluded constituencies, local and national authorities access consultative spaces to facilitate and monitor inclusion
- Primary stakeholders are sensitized about rights of most excluded constituencies, processes of inclusion and involved in advocacy and influencing actions
- Sharing lessons learned for sustainability of achievements
- Strengthen capacity of youth and women’s associations
- Establish networks of young mediators to participate in political decision-making
- Support mentoring initiatives to bring young people and adults together
- Use media to engage in dialogue with young people