Survivor-Led Advocacy
South Sudan
In South Sudan we are working with local organisations, strengthening capacities of survivors of sexual violence to advocate for their rights to justice and reparation.
Survivor-Led Advocacy and the CTRH Process
In January 2022 Rights for Peace began a new project with the Global Survivors Fund (GSF) and the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace & Justice (CIGPJ) on Survivor-Led Advocacy in relation to the transitional justice process in South Sudan. This project responds to the current momentum around the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH), which is mandated to “recommend processes for the full enjoyment of victims” right to remedy including measures for reparations and compensation”. The project aims are threefold:
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Supporting the Technical Committee on the CTRH'
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Providing support to CRSV survivors in the consultation/legislation process;
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Contributing to National and International Advocacy mechanisms on CRSV and Reparations in South Sudan.
"Survivors Speak" about Reparation for CRSV
Recommendations relating to the transitional justice process in South Sudan.
In September 2021, Rights for Peace organised a "Survivors Speak" Conference along with the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ), Dialogue and Research Initiative (DRI) and Remembering the ones we Lost (ROWL) - all members of the Transitional Justice Working Group in South Sudan.
During the event, survivors of CRSV in South Sudan enaged with officials about the medical, psychological, social, economic, and other impacts the specific violence has had on their lives. They also made recommendations relating to the transitional justice process in South Sudan, presenting their key messages and priorities. Read more about the event here.
This event also launched our findings following 9 months of research and collaboration with partners in South Sudan. Please read our Fact Sheet on the Status and Opportunities for Reparations for Survivors of Conflict Related Sexual Violence here.
Reparations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence::
Survivors of CRSV face unique challenges in attaining reparations.
In 2021 Rights for Peace completed a project in partnership with the Global Survivors Fund (GSF) and members of the South Sudan Transitional Justice Working Group to conduct a Study on the Status of and Opportunities for Reparations for Survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). This was part of the GSF's Multi-Country Study which is being conducted in approximately 20 countries.
The Study was informed by a series of focus group discussions and individual interviews involving a total of 103 survivors from 6 locations, namely Bentiu, Bor, Mundri, Juba, Yei and northern Uganda. The data collected clearly showed that the impact of CRSV on survivors, their families and wider communities is devastating – with a range of social, psychological, medical and economic impacts which are chronic, debilitating, and traumatic. Read our Factsheet on CRSV in South Sudan and recommendations here.