UN Human Rights in South Sudan

Profile

In line with Security Council Resolution 2514 (2020), the Human Rights Division (HRD) monitors, investigates, verifies and reports on violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law in South Sudan, including conflict-related sexual violence. It also provides technical support to international, regional and national mechanisms engaged in monitoring, investigating and reporting violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations and abuses. HRD is a component of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) and represents the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in South Sudan.

Achievements

• In accordance with its mandate as provided for in Security Council Resolution 2514 (2020), HRD reports regularly and publicly on conflict-related violations and abuses, including those that may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity. Between February 2019 and February 2020, HRD published three major reports: two geographic reports: on on CRSV perpetrated primarily by Government and related armed elements in northern Unity and on conflict-related violations and abuses in Central Equatoria and one thematic report on access to healthcare for survivors of CRSV in South Sudan..
• HRD has provided ongoing technical support to key national human rights actors and institutions, including the South Sudan Human Rights Commission and the Technical Committee for the establishment of the national Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH). In June 2018, for instance, in collaboration with the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and with financial support from UNDP, HRD organized a training for Technical Committee members on key principles and methodologies for consultations to jump-start the process of collecting victim and witness testimonies.
• HRD continues to build the capacity of civil society actors to monitor freedom of expression, as well as hate speech and incitement to violence. In September and October 2018, HRD partnered with the South Sudan Council of Churches and the #Defyhatenow initiative to conduct three trainings for media professionals and members of civil society organizations to empower them to combat hate speech in their communities.
• HRD has also provided technical support to R-ARCSS signatories on addressing CRSV, including the development of the national SSPDF Action Plan to address CRSV, launched in March 2019.

Partners and Donors

Partners: Signatories to the R-ARCSS, South Sudan Human Rights Commission, national Transitional Justice Working Group, international and national non-governmental organizations, traditional and religious leaders, members of the UN Country Team and Humanitarian Country Team, and other humanitarian actors.

UN Human Rights Focus Areas

Last reviewed: June 2020