South Sudan

The political and security situation in South Sudan remained volatile, with cattle raiding and migration related conflicts in the Equatoria State, intercommunal violence in Warrap State, armed militia clashes in Jonglei and Upper Nile States, and the increasing number of returnees and refugee inflow due to the Sudan crisis. In 2022, the parties to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement adopted a roadmap extending the transitional period for two more years and postponing elections until 2024. Overall, although six laws were enacted to pave the way for constitutional, electoral and institutional reforms, the implementation of the peace agreement was marred by delays.

With weak and under-resourced justice and security systems which have not yet recovered from the impact of war, people in vulnerable situations have no access or delayed access to justice – a factor that remains a significant trigger for social tension and conflict, including “revenge” killings.

2022 marked the third year of implementing Phase III of UNDP’s rule of law programme that provides tailored access to justice, security and human rights support to six states and one Administrative Area, and supports constitution making, transitional justice, judicial and security sector reforms. In addition, with the support of UNDP’s Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), South Sudan has been implementing initiatives under the SALIENT project, to counter armed violence and proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

To contribute to the establishment of two key transitional justice bodies envisaged by the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, UNDP facilitated countrywide consultations to inform the content of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing Bill and the Compensation and Reparations Authority Bill. Over 4,500 people in all the ten states and three Administrative Areas participated. UNDP also supported two learning visits to The Gambia and South Africa for high-level government officials and civil society practitioners. Both bills were drafted in 2022, with their review process scheduled for 2023. In addition, UNDP provided psychosocial support to almost 800 survivors of armed violence who then organized themselves into 47 victim support groups to willingly participate in the truth, reconciliation and healing processes, and to seek compensation and reparations.

Leave No One Behind

The Judicial Reform Committee was established to accelerate progress towards a transformational justice reform agenda. UNDP contributed to setting up a secretariat for the Committee, provided study reports on the justice landscape and gender diversity in the judiciary, and helped develop its user-friendly website to enable people living within and outside South Sudan to access the information and participate in the reform process virtually.

In cooperation with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), UNDP contributed to the drafting and advocated for the adoption of the Constitution Making Process Act. Enacted in 2022, the act launched a process to replace the country’s Transitional Constitution of 2011.

The capacity of 1,705 judges, prosecutors, investigators, traditional leaders and legal aid providers (including 574 women) was improved. The justice services were made available for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable, including individuals in pre-trial detention, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and people living with HIV and AIDS. As a result, 6,128 people received access to justice and 5,867 individuals were provided with legal aid services. This encompasses over 3,000 people (including 211 women and 15 juveniles) who were released from pre-trial detention.

To support individuals deprived of their liberty to reintegrate into society upon their release, UNDP organized prison-based vocational skills trainings for over 800 inmates: 630 (including 134 women) graduated in 2022.

UNDP contributed to advancing community safety and security by sustaining the operations of two emergency call centres within the police, and provided technical and material support to the National Police Service to establish a Community Policing Directorate. Thirty-eight new police-community relations committees were established bringing the total to 170. Forty-four committees are led by women, youth and/or IDPs. Over 12,000 community members (including 6,685 women) participated in the confidence-building work of the committees.

Massive awareness-raising campaigns launched in cooperation with civil society and local media, reached over seven million people. The messages on human rights, available legal aid services, constitution making and transitional justice processes served to empower people to demand justice and accountability, and contributed to resilience building.

To promote peace, rule of law and sustainable development, UNDP in South Sudan worked closely with UNMISS, UN Women, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF.