Civil Rights Defenders South Sudan

The project has contributed to change within the partner organisations in terms of capacity development both on administration and finance management as well as in relation to their mandate as human rights defenders. Examples of the results from 2023 are outlined below: Component 1: Organisational assessments, financial and administrative capacity strengthening 23 HRDs (11 women, 12 men) from 8 partner organisations trained in financial and administrative management. Main outcomes: • Computerised accounting system established. • Majority of recommendations from the 2023 audit addressed and audit findings referring to capacity weaknesses of partners in the field of financial and administrative capacities strengthened. • Finance and project staff have acquired relevant knowledge and skills. • New or updated financial and administrative processes established. Component 2: Defending the defenders: security interventions - CRD has successfully launched the Natalia Project i South Sudan, offering security devices for human rights defenders to ensure their individual security when on mission. - Two workshops have been held 16 HRDs (8 women and 8 men) from 9 organisations received training or device orientation, with 14 devices deployed. - CRD has organised workshops and trainings on personal security for their partners, and supported them to develop security plans, routines and practices. - Specific training has been organised for women human rights defenders on physical and psychosocial security, as well as organisational security. - Emergency funding has been offered to human rights defenders facing acute danger. allowing them to leave the country or go 'under ground' for safety. - Counselling to the partners on mental health has been carried out. Component 3: Fighting impunity through legal accountability - partners have received training on a defenders database to collect and store evidence on human rights abuses. - workshops on legal and documentation support has been offered, including tailored onsite support to partners to strengthen their documentation and legal action work. - 4 HRDs (8 women, 6 men) trained in human rights research and crime scene investigation. Component 4: Accountability, advocacy and networks expansion - Two international advocacy & networking missions have been carried out - CRD's approach to provide tailored support and expert advice through regular in-person and virtual meetings between the project team and each partner has been successful. In 2023, CRD's partners received grants for seven small projects in the field of organisational capacity building, four on documentation and legal action and one on security. The activities carried out included inter alia: • Development of human resource and financial handbook/manual • Acquisition of Quick Book, installation, and training of financial staff • Awareness and advocacy on Youth Radio • Training of judges on understanding basic human rights principles, international human rights instruments, women's rights and sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) • Awareness raising on human rights, violations and reporting among the government and communities of Jonglei state. • Identification of human rights violations in Jonglei state (SGBV, force marriage, and child marriage, child abduction, freedom of expression)

 The overall objective of the Programme is to deter the pervasive impunity in South Sudan and promote a peaceful and inclusive development, as envisioned in Agenda 2020 - SDG 16, through ensuring accountability for human rights violation. Furthermore, through a strong and persistent gender perspective, the project will contribute to the fulfilment of SDG 5 on gender equality. The overall objective will be achieved through implementation of activities grouped under four components: 1) organisational asessments and financial and administrative capacity strengthening of partner CSOs; 2) defending the defenders through security interventions; 3) fighting impunity through legal accountability; and 4) accountability advocacy and networks expansion at sub-regional and global level. Each component is linked to the Theory of Change: Component 1 will contribute to the basic capacity of the human rights movement to exist and grow and thus to make it possible to seek accountability for human rights violations; similarly Component 2 will build security structures for HRDs and hence enable them to continue their crucial work to hold actors in power accountable for human rights violations; Component 3 will lead to an increase in the number of legal cases that will make an example for power holders who abuse human rights that impunity will no longer hold in South Sudan, and hence will lead to increased accountability; Component 4 will bring much needed domestic, sub-regional and international attention to human rights violations in South Sudan, to which the power holders need to respond.