Sensitising survivors and communities about Transitional Justice processes in South Sudan

Updated: 1 day ago

A year has passed since the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing Act 2024 (CTRH) and the Compensation and Reparation Authority Act 2024 (CRA) were signed into law in South Sudan. The CTRH and CRA are mandated to investigate serious human rights violations which have occurred in South Sudan, giving victims, including survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) the opportunity to seek truth and claim reparation. And yet, very little information about these laws has trickled down to communities across the country.

A greater public awareness of the Transitional Justice processes is essential to establishing trust that these new institutions will deliver. It is also central to a victim-centred approach, which will enable survivors to engage and be heard, with affected communities placed at the heart of the process.

In September and October 2025 Rights for Peace and the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ) conducted training workshops and community meetings across five locations, namely Torit, Yambio, Wau, Malakal and Juba. The activities included the dissemination of our Citizens Handbook, Pictorial Guide for trainers, access to our training video in English and Arabic, which is available YouTube, as well as the broadcasting of pre-recorded radio episodes in different languages on local FM stations in the different locations.

These activities were delivered with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Peacebuilding Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Across every event, understanding and knowledge of the key TJ mechanisms - particularly the CTRH and CRA - increased significantly. In Malakal, over 80% of participants committed to actively raising awareness within their communities following the event.

"Accessibility is key"

More needs to be done to disseminate information beyond key towns into rural areas. In a country where over 50 languages are spoken,accessibility is key. While materials, including pre-recorded radio episodes, were translated into six main languages (Juba Arabic, Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, classic Arabic and English) this hardly meets needs. Participants highlighted that translating resources such as radio shows into more languages would increase the availability of key information about TJ, and therefore boost community awareness.

Article 8(18) of the CTRH Act states that the CTRH shall “carry out public education, awareness raising and civic engagement activities to inform the public” about its work.

However, due to a lack of radios and other media, reaching rural areas will continue to be a challenge. In Wau, participants commented that they had never heard of the CTRH or CRA Acts before. One female participant stated that the workshop was her "first time learning" about the laws. In Juba, chiefs from the ten states and three administrative areas of South Sudan expressed that they do not know their rights and need more sensitisation through continual workshops.

A group of participants at the Community Meeting in Yambio. — Yambio: Community Meeting

If victims and CRSV survivors cannot access basic information about the process being designed to create peace, reconciliation and reparation, then how can the mechanisms be effective?

My community was destroyed, with many losing their assets, houses and farms during the 2016 conflict and my people ran to the refugee camps in Uganda. Up to now, who will be responsible for what they have lost? -a participant in Torit.

While our events trained community leaders to sensitise others using materials such as a Pictorial Guide and Citizens’ Handbook, much more is needed. Outreach will need to be embedded in the TJ process for its mechanisms to be a success. The chiefs at the community meeting in Juba suggested a National Conference be organised to bring together all community leaders for sensitisation. They also requested to be assisted in writing a letter to the Ministry of Justice for their full involvement in TJ, stating that:

We had no idea about the ongoing TJ process because nobody consults with us anymore and we don't have information about what is happening in the country, so we want to thank those who organised this meeting for thinking about us and our role in the healing of our communities.

Participants across all five locations agreed that an additional day of training would have equipped them with an even deeper understanding of the two laws and aided their sensitisation. Amid ongoing violence and fears that the TJ mechanisms will not be impartial, participants wanted to know what compensation will look like for those who have experienced CRSV, lost their property or had their cattle stolen, and how it will be carried out.

The people in the villages don't know anything about these laws. They are the ones most affected by conflict, so they need this information more than anyone. -a female representative at the community meeting in Malakal.

Inclusivity for transitional justice to be successful

Participants raised the importance of ensuring an inclusive TJ process. Every citizen has the right to be heard: more must be done so that victims’ voices are at the heart of TJ processes.

I now urge all of us that when we go back to our communities, we put what we have learnt into practice and start giving awareness -a female member of Parliament at the state level, Torit.

A group of participants at the ToT workshop in Torit — Torit: ToT Workshop

Building trust and safe spaces for reconciliation

The events provided an open and safe space for participants to share their stories. During a session in Torit, a young man testified that he was a survivor of CRSV. His priority was to find out what protection measures the CTRH would enact to protect him and other survivors like him. Even though he still lives in the same community as the perpetrator, he expressed willingness to forgive his abuser and find peace. This story shows the importance of holding awareness-raising workshops: not only to address a lack of knowledge around TJ, but also to put survivors’ stories and concerns at the centre of discussions. A successful TJ process in South Sudan must be influenced by survivors, for survivors.

In the Malakal community meeting, one participant shared a story of how he intervened to prevent a revenge killing:

We had a case where a man was killed, and the family wanted revenge. I told them, 'Let us sit down and discuss blood compensation instead.' They agreed, and we reached reconciliation. Fire cannot be fought with fire; the only solution is reconciliation.

This was a powerful testimonial of TJ in action: it highlighted to the community how reconciliation can be achieved through dialogue and forgiveness, even when emotions are high and violence is commonplace.

Across the workshops, participants expressed concerns that a lack of trust within communities and fears of speaking up could erode the efficacy of the TJ processes. It is a promising sign that participants in every location pledged to continue to inform themselves, and others, through sparking discussions and sharing resources in their respective communities. For example, at the Training of Trainers event at Juba University, participants formed a WhatsApp group to continue to communicate about TJ materials following the workshop and share debates, dialogues and awareness campaigns with their peers. This group has established a sustainable platform for continuing engagement in peace-building and justice education.

Future visits to these locations, and others across South Sudan, will be key to assess initial impacts. Follow-up training sessions on trauma healing, child rights and disability inclusion were suggested by participants at the Training of Trainers workshop in Malakal. Follow-up sessions in more rural communities will be key to developing local knowledge nationwide. Participants in Juba recommended that this training be delivered to local government institutions, community associations and schools.

As a government, we must account for the loss of lives and property, and that's why this workshop is important for our community to open their eyes and know their rights to justice ... no one is coming from outside to bring peace, peace starts with us -Hon. Ann Tuna Richard, the Speaker of the Western Equatoria State Transitional Legislative Assembly (WESTLA)

Beyond citizens, organisations have also committed to engaging communities to increase awareness. At the Yambio ToT event, the Transitional Justice Working Group and representatives from Parliament pledged to conduct further sensitisation by sharing copies of the Pictorial Guide and Citizens’ Handbook, created by Rights for Peace and CIGPJ and initially funded by the Global Survivors Fund. In Juba, every university representative received a copy of these booklets to take back to their institution and share with other students.

Awareness raising for those at the grassroots is key because they are the most affected -a participant in Yambio.

Community expectations of the TJ process

The TJ process in South Sudan should be centred around survivors. In both workshop locations, community members expressed their expectations: compensation, civic education and the return of land to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) must be delivered to achieve accountability. Education and awareness cuts to the heart of what survivors and communities regard as their top priorities in TJ. Without it, a successful, survivor-centred TJ process in South Sudan will not be possible.

Compensation should benefit the whole community - through schools, roads, or hospitals. That is how we can heal together. -a chief at the community meeting in Malakal.

A group of participants at the ToT workshop in Yambio — Yambio: ToT Workshop

We are grateful to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Peacebuilding Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for their support of this project.