Outcome SSD_D_1.1

Women and men in South Sudan, particularly youth and vulnerable groups, benefit from and participate in more transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance that protects and promotes human rights, enables the consolidation of peace, establishes the rule of law and ensures access to justice for all

In 2024, South Sudan made notable strides in advancing transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance, benefiting women, youth, and vulnerable groups. The peacebuilding process, including the permanent constitution-making, elections, judicial reform, legal reform, and the implementation of transitional justice mechanisms, continued to foster an enabling environment for protecting women and girls while consolidating peace and strengthening the rule of law. Key milestones include the enactment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing Act (CTRH), 2024 and the Compensation and Reparation Authority Act (CRA), 2024. These laws institutionalize gender equality by mandating women's leadership and participation in transitional justice processes and prioritizing survivor-centered approaches. UN Women played a pivotal role in reviewing these bills, ensuring the integration of gender equality principles and the voices of survivors in the legislative framework. The launch of the South Sudan Women’s Charter in 2024, marked another significant achievement. Crafted under the leadership of the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Peace Building, and supported by UN Women and funding partners, the Charter provides a comprehensive roadmap for advancing women’s priorities in the Permanent Constitution-Making Process. It encapsulates twelve critical themes, including political participation, protection against Gender-Based Violence, and access to justice, empowering women and girls to advocate for their rights through the Reconstituted National Constitutional Review Commission (R-NCRC). Additionally, the extension of the transitional period until February 2027 offers an opportunity to address pending tasks and strengthen governance structures, further embedding inclusive participation and gender equality into South Sudan’s legal and institutional frameworks. These efforts collectively contribute to establishing a governance system that upholds human rights, consolidates peace, and ensures justice and equality for all. Furthermore, as a result of UN Women efforts, women’s involvement in peacebuilding increased by 13%, significantly enhancing the sustainability of peace processes in the targeted areas, including Jonglei, Pibor, and Malakal. In addition, UN Women addressed intercommunal conflicts in these locations. Dialogue-based approaches and local mediation efforts led to measurable reductions in violent incidents, with cultural events enhancing communal relationships. For example, in Pibor, increased unity among age-set groups fostered non-violent conflict resolution and community-driven development, demonstrating the efficacy of inclusive local governance. A notable achievement in Malakal was the establishment of county peace committees that integrated traditional justice mechanisms with formal legal systems, ensuring culturally sensitive and sustainable conflict resolution. These efforts enhanced community trust, supporting the reintegration of displaced persons and ex-combatants, particularly in Upper Nile and Jonglei States.

Women and men in South Sudan, particularly youth and vulnerable groups, benefit from and participate in more transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance that protects and promotes human rights, enables the consolidation of peace, establishes the rule of law and ensures access to justice for all

In 2025, UN Women contributed to strengthening transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance in South Sudan by expanding meaningful participation of women, youth, and vulnerable groups in national and community decision-making processes. Through targeted institutional support, civic engagement, and accountability mechanisms, UN Women helped advance governance systems that promote human rights, support peace consolidation, and lay the foundations for the rule of law and equitable access to justice. At the national level, UN Women supported inclusive governance through the Constitution Making Process (CMP), ensuring that women, youth, internally displaced persons, and persons with disabilities actively shaped discussions on South Sudan’s permanent constitution. The National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) adopted gender-responsive civic education and public consultation materials, including a women’s engagement strategy and participation toolkit, enabling nationwide consultations that address gender barriers and promote inclusive public participation. These tools strengthened institutional transparency and accountability by standardizing how citizens engage with constitutional reform processes. Capacity strengthening of governance actors was a key driver of impact. A total of 217 constitutional actors from the NCRC and Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) were trained on gender-responsive public participation and constitutional gender mainstreaming, enhancing their ability to integrate human rights, gender equality, and youth inclusion into governance frameworks. In parallel, 150 parliamentarians, the majority of whom were women, increased their capacity to promote inclusive constitutional debates, rights protection, and accountable governance. At the community level, UN Women supported grassroots civic education and dialogue to expand public understanding of governance and justice processes. More than 2,184 citizens, predominantly women and youth, were empowered with information on constitutional rights, governance structures, and participation mechanisms through dialogues, civic education materials, and public consultations. Women-led coalitions across six locations mobilized communities on issues including inheritance rights, land governance, access to justice, affirmative action, and protection from gender-based violence, strengthening community-level accountability and rights awareness. UN Women also reinforced inclusive governance through media engagement and accountability mechanisms. Journalists were trained on ethical, conflict-sensitive, and gender-responsive reporting on governance and peace processes, leading to increased coverage of women’s rights, constitutional reform, and civic participation. Community radio stations and listener clubs expanded citizen engagement, enabling communities to contribute to public discourse and hold institutions accountable in a safe and informed manner.

Women and men in South Sudan, particularly youth and vulnerable groups, benefit from and participate in more transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance that protects and promotes human rights, enables the consolidation of peace, establishes the rule of law and ensures access to justice for all

South Sudan’s peacebuilding process including permanent constitution-making, elections, judicial reform, legal reform, economic reform, security sector reforms and implementation of transitional justice mechanism continued to create enabling environments for women and girls to be protected. However, most of the implementation was constrained.