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Documents

Overview

1. BACKGROUND

The civil conflict and political crises that erupted in South Sudan in 2013 and 2016 severely weakened the rule of law and created a significant capacity gap within the justice system. This has posed substantial challenges to the effective, accountable, and timely delivery of justice services, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as people living with HIV aids and especially women and children across the country. For many of these groups, justice and security services are largely inaccessible and disconnected from their realities.

Legal aid and human rights awareness among the population served by the justice system remain critically low. Formal mechanisms to address legal issues, particularly sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), are often inaccessible, poorly understood, or mistrusted by the public. Women and children, in particular, lack awareness of their legal options and struggle to access the information needed to make informed decisions in response to crimes or disputes. This disconnect significantly hampers the public's ability to assert their rights and seek redress through the justice system.

If these limitations within the justice system are not addressed, delays and denials of justice for vulnerable groups, especially people living with HIV/AIDS—estimated at around 200,000 nationwide[1] are likely to persist. This is particularly concerning as individuals living with HIV/AIDS are often survivors of SGBV, making access to timely and effective justice services even more crucial.[2]. 

HIV aids across South Sudan is with varying levels of transmissions. The highest (prevalence) is in Western Equatoria followed by Lakes and Unity states,” Awel revealed. “While the lowest transmissions are in Warrap and Upper Nile states respectively[3]   review of HIV programmatic data in February 2012 suggested consistently higher HIV prevalence in WES than in other states. Because of concerns about the high HIV prevalence and the threat of a worsening epidemic among post conflict communities, the Ministry of Health requested assistance from CDC to investigate the high HIV prevalence in WES and provide recommendations for the public health response.[4]

A field investigation was conducted during June 10–30, 2012[5]. The team observed and documented HIV services provided at four antenatal clinics and three voluntary counseling and testing facilities in WES. Laboratory data were reviewed and HIV testing practices were observed to verify adherence to recommended World Health Organization/United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS HIV testing strategies (3,4). The team abstracted and analyzed HIV testing data from antenatal clinic registers and voluntary counseling and testing data collection forms to verify the reported epidemiologic data. Using standardized inquiry domains, focus group discussions and interviews were conducted with 75 stakeholders and key informants, including government and nongovernmental officials, religious leaders, community members, health-care workers, and persons living with HIV, to describe HIV risk factors in the region. Interviews were followed by observation of social interactions and cultural practices in the communities[6]

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Western Equatoria, particularly in Yambio, South Sudan, remains a significant public health concern. As of recent reports in 2024, the region has seen an increase in HIV infections. This rise is attributed to factors such as poverty, limited access to healthcare, and ongoing social challenges like stigma towards individuals living with HIV. The region's proximity to countries with high HIV rates, such as the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda, also contributes to the spread of the virus.[7]

Efforts to combat HIV in this area are ongoing, but there are calls for more focused interventions, including enhanced access to preventive measures like condoms, targeted outreach to at-risk populations (especially young women), and improved linkage to care and treatment services​.

Overall, the low levels of knowledge of HIV status, coupled with stigma and discrimination, gender inequalities as well as limited legal provisions and legislations are among the major challenges that heighten HIV/AIDS risk in the country and the denial of justice for people living with HIV/AIDS. 

Similar to the rest of the country, the people especially women and children including survivors of SGBV and persons living with HIV/AIDS in Western Equatoria experience the same challenges and lack adequate basic justice service providers and facilities for legal redress to crimes and disputes. Moreover, they do not have easy access to basic psychosocial services to address the mental impact of offences such as sexual related crimes committed against them for several years. Restoring the full delivery of justice and rule of law services in this location is essential for sustaining the gains made in maintaining peace and harmony amongst the local population since the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU).

The UNDP Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights Strengthening Program supports to the Joint UN Plan on AIDS aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to provide legal aid services to survivors of SGBV and persons living with HIV/AIDS. The Program places emphasis on ensuring that such vulnerable groups can receive fair and speedy disputes resolution to claim their rights, increase their safety and security and in turn fully recover from their grievances. 

In this regard, the Program is seeking a competent and reputable civil society organization, national non-governmental organization or community-based organization to establish a Justice and Confidence Center (JCC) Western Equatoria- Yambio to provide the following services for survivors of SGBV and persons living with HIV/AIDS:

1. Provide legal representation for at least 50 survivors of SGBV and persons living with HIV/AIDS including women, girls, men and boys
2. Provide legal advice/counselling, trauma healing support to 300 survivors of SGBV and persons living with HIV/AIDS including women, girls, men and boys
3. Provide legal awareness including human rights awareness to 1000 including survivors of SGBV and persons living with HIV/AIDS in communities

Previous recipients of grants may participate in the current competitive process.

1. OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS/ DELIVERABLES 

CSOs are requested to submit their proposals as potential grant implementers. Applications must include Western Equatoria as the location. The main objective of the call is to identify civil society organizations (CSOs), national non-governmental organizations (NNGOs) or community-based organizations (CBOs) with established Justice and Confidence Centers and operational presence and capacities in Western Equatoria- Yambio to provide legal aid to women, men girls and boys as follows:

1. Legal representation  for atleast 50 people living with HIV aids, 
2. Legal advice/counselling and trauma healing support  for atleast 300 people living with HIV aids.
3. Legal awareness including human rights awareness for ateleast 1000 peopleliving with HIV aids

[1] Digital Qquality Editor, ‘South Sudan Records Increased HIV/AIDS Infections’ (Radio Tamazuj, 2 December 2022) <https://www.radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/south-sudan-records-increased-hiv-aids-infections> accessed 17 August 2024.

[2] Report, Joint UN Plan on Aids, 2019-2020

[3] Editor (n 1).

[4] ‘Notes from the Field: Investigation of High HIV Prevalence in Western Equatoria State — South Sudan, 2012’ <https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6222a5.htm> accessed 17 August 2024.

[5] ‘South Sudan | UNAIDS’ <https://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/southsudan> accessed 17 August 2024.

[6] ‘Notes from the Field: Investigation of High HIV Prevalence in Western Equatoria State — South Sudan, 2012’ (n 4).

[7] ibid.