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Documents

Overview

I.               BACKGROUND

The civil conflict and political crises that erupted in South Sudan in 2013 and 2016 had devastating impacts on the population, leading to widespread human rights violations and mass displacement. Over 4.2 million people were displaced—approximately 2 million internally and 2.2 million into neighboring countries. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) reached alarming levels during these conflicts, with rape often used as a weapon of war, particularly in the 2016 crisis.

Though Northern Bahr el Ghazal remained peaceful when the rest of the country was at war during the 2013 and 2016 crises, the state is equally affected by the aftereffects of the prolonged conflict. Though the state has a functional justice system, there exist systemic institutional challenges that limit the ability of the institutions to provide timely services to the vulnerable persons. The Justice institutions have limited capacity in terms of skills and numerical strength; are inadequately funded, poor infrastructure and limited geographical coverage as the institutions are present in the urban areas leaving the remote areas without justice actors. 

Gender Based- Violence related cases are prevalent in the state, and these are attributed to the low literacy levels of the population, high poverty levels, and patriarchal character of most communities whose customs and norms reinforce Gender Based Violence culture and tolerance. The state is food insecure, and this is attributed to the climatic shocks especially the prolonged drought and sometimes flooding that result is poor harvests.

The Sudan conflict that erupted on April 15th, 2023, between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), caused exodus of people fleeing the conflict resulting in an influx of refugees and returnees in the Northern Bahr El Ghazal state among others. The state is host to 9000 refugees at Wedwill refugee settlement and over 29,000 Households constituted by[1] (web, 2018) returnees and IDPs are estimated to have entered the state are living within the community. The increase in population is not only overstretching the already constrained rule of law and social service institutions but is also resulting in competition for the scarce community resources with an already vulnerable host population. The Sudan conflict has further soared food prices as supply of food stuffs from Sudan continue to diminish because of increased insecurity along the trade routes. The competition of social services and community resources, and sky rocketing food prices are not only exacerbating the vulnerability of both the returnees and host population but are also escalating cases of Gender- Based Violence among other crimes. It is worth noting that many of the refugees, returnees and IDPs went through very traumatic experiences as many reported incidents of torture and looting of their household items along the escape routes from Sudan into South Sudan. Their mental health would deteriorate further as their dreams of better shelter, access to services and community resources are unmet causing fertile ground for individual, community, and inter-communal conflict.

Torit, for instance, faces significant systemic challenges. These include limited human and financial resources, poor infrastructure, and weak institutional presence in rural areas. As a result, access to justice remains limited, especially for vulnerable populations.

Eastern Equatoria – Torit faces additional challenges. The justice system struggles to meet the needs of communities due to low staffing levels, inadequate funding, and limited reach beyond urban centers. Gender-based violence remains prevalent, driven by high poverty, low literacy levels, and entrenched patriarchal norms.  In this context, the need to strengthen access to justice in Aweil and in Eastern Equatoria, for the Vulnerable groups, especially women, girls, returnees, refugees, and IDPs through legal aid to navigate the justice system, claim their rights, and resolve disputes is critical.

UNDP’s Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights Strengthening Programme addresses these challenges by supporting legal aid service delivery through Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). The programme extends Low Value Grants (LVGs) to establish Justice Confidence Centers (JCCs), which offer legal representation, advice, and psychosocial support. Through capacity building, legal awareness, and improved coordination among justice actors, the programme aims to make justice accessible, responsive, and inclusive, particularly in underserved areas across the country.

1. OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the call for proposal is to identify national organizations – whether civil society organizations (CSO), national non-governmental organizations (NNGO) community-based organizations (CBO), or the like – with operational presence and capacities, one organization providing legal aid in each State (Eastern Equatoria- (in Torit) & Northern Bahr El Ghazal- (In Aweil East &Aweil Center) to: 

1. Establish and operationalize sustainable Justice Confidence Centers (JCCs) with the capacity to efficiently resolve cases within a six-month operational period, employing a trauma-informed, gender-sensitive approach that prioritizes the needs of victims.
2. Safeguard fundamental human rights by offering legal advice and representation in civil, criminal, and administrative matters, focusing on the most vulnerable groups, including women, girls, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), the elderly, persons with disabilities, as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees.
3.  Provide legal representation, advice and assistance to prevent wrongful convictions, ensuring fair trials and legal representation for individuals involved in legal proceedings.
4.  Empower communities through awareness campaigns on legal rights, responsibilities, and effective means to address legal issues.
5.  Facilitate the peaceful and just resolution of disputes using alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation, contributing to overall community stability.
6.  Deliver legal education and information to the public through Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, such as posters and flyers, detailing step-by-step processes, such as what to expect when someone is arrested or explaining the court hierarchy. This initiative aims to enhance public understanding of the legal system and enable individuals to navigate legal processes more effectively.
7.  Conduct targeted legal awareness-raising initiatives on key justice issues, civil and criminal proceedings, human rights, and referral pathways.
8.  Undertake regular visits to police stations, prisons, and detention centers to identify individuals experiencing prolonged pretrial detention, assess their legal needs, and work towards securing their early release on bail or bond. Additionally, provide support for legal representation and monitor legal procedures for fairness.
9.  Provide counseling and psychosocial support to victims, prisoners, and individuals facing prolonged legal challenges to protect and promote their mental health and psychosocial well-being.

1.  Offer referrals to hospitals for medical assistance, as well as connect individuals to appropriate mechanisms and mental health services if needed.

[1] https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/south-sudan-2019-humanitarian-response-plan