South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network

🚨 The UN Human Rights Council's 6⃣1⃣st session is starting today❗️ Follow this feed & our website for updates: ▶️ We're kicking off the session with the traditional High-Level Segment — @Hassan_Shire & @MemoryBandera are in Geneva for engagements around #Sudan, #SouthSudan, & other crises ▶️ This session will have a focus on South Sudan — read our letter: defenddefenders.org/south-sudan-ex… 🇸🇸 ▶️ We'll also raise the importance of protecting #HRDs & civic space; early warning & prevention; and adequately funding investigative & accountability mechanisms 🇺🇳

⁉️ In Geneva for the UN Human Rights Council's 61st session ⁉️ Attend our side event, “South Sudan in crisis: the HRC’s role in preventing further atrocities” 📅 Thursday 5 March 2026 ⏲️ 14:00-15:00 CET 📍 Palais des Nations, Room IX 🇺🇳 #HRC61 #SouthSudan 🇸🇸

Webinar: Women, Conflict & Accountability in the Horn Marking #InternationalWomensDay, join @Halayalkarib, Joseph Amanya (@LegalActionww) & Mahlet Gebremedhin (@OmnaTigray). 📅 9 Mar @ 9AM NY | 3PM SA | 4PM EAT Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

Photos from our #SouthSudan event today at #HRC61. We thank panellists & partners, as well as all state & OHCHR representatives who attended.

Today, we honour the women human rights defenders in South Sudan who face risks head-on to fight oppression and inequality. Your courage is unstoppable, your work is essential. No threats. No barriers. Your fight is our fight! #IWD2026 #WomenHRDs #StandWithWomen #SouthSudan

🔵 Peace deal collapsing 🔵 Civilians paying the price Our investigations show #SouthSudan sliding toward renewed conflict Airstrikes, mass displacement, forced recruitment of children & grand corruption are driving the crisis Easy-Read Summary➡️ shorturl.at/ZC2c1 #SSOX

During the #HRC61 debate on the most serious human rights situations (item 4⃣ GD) today, we raised the alarm about risks of an internationalisation of conflicts in #Sudan & #SouthSudan and of a regional conflict between #Ethiopia & #Eritrea. ❝ Throughout the Horn of Africa, human rights scrutiny is vital. Mechanisms that are in place, such as the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea and inves­ti­gative bodies on Sudan & South Sudan, should be extended, and this Council should act to re­instate the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia or establish a new mechanism on Ethiopia. ❞ ➡️ Full statement: defenddefenders.org/oral-statement… 🇺🇳 🇪🇷 🇪🇹 🇸🇸 🇸🇩

Big step4🇸🇸! @Sihanet with 🇸🇸Min/Peacebuilding @UNPeacebuilding & @unwomenssudan is advancing young women’s political leadership. Today’s “From Participation to Power” dialogue between young women and political actors is driving inclusive governance forward. ✊🏽 #YoungWomen4Peace

❝ South Sudan: amid risks of civil war, UN extends vital investigations ❞ 🗒️ Read our press release on the adoption of a resolution on #SouthSudan, today at the UN Human Rights Council: defenddefenders.org/south-sudan-am… 🇺🇳 Among other things, the @UN_HRC extended the mandate of @UNCHRSS. #HRC61 🇸🇸 @Hassan_Shire

✍️ Read @Hassan_Shire's “Reflections” on the 6⃣1⃣st session of the UN Human Rights Council 🇺🇳 Despite political polarisation & a deepening UN financial crisis, the @UN_HRC delivered meaningful outcomes, including on #SouthSudan 🇸🇸. For DefendDefenders, #HRC61 was also an opportunity for high-level engagements, to keep a spotlight on crises (including in #Sudan 🇸🇩 & #Ethiopia 🇪🇹), and to advocate for civic space & independent mechanisms set up by the Council. ▶️ Full Reflections: defenddefenders.org/reflections-on… ▶️ One-pager (visual summary — PDF with clickable links): ❝HRC61 outcomes for Africa❞: defenddefenders.org/wp-content/upl…

Grateful to H.E. Mr. Alier Deng Ruai Deng, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of South Sudan to Geneva, for the informal meet-up on the sidelines of #HRC61 and for taking part in the side event on South Sudan. We look forward to continued collaboration and engagement.

🚨 South Sudan: in a letter released today, a record number of 1⃣2⃣9⃣ NGOs urge members of @UN_HRC to extend the man­date of the UN Com­mis­­sion on Human Rights in South Sudan (#CHRSS) to enable it to pursue its investigations 🇺🇳 The signatories also urge the international community to stand ready to respond to any further dete­rio­ration of the country's situation, including on the basis of expert analyses of risk factors for atrocity crimes. 📩 Full letter: defenddefenders.org/south-sudan-ex… 🇸🇸 #SouthSudan #HRC61

Deteriorating political and security situation in #SouthSudan is placing civilians at risk of death, displacement and deprivation The Commission urges immediate political de-escalation and cessation of hostilities in civilian-populated areas #SSOX

Very disturbing that a number of human rights organisations, including the National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders @NCHRD_UG, Chapter Four Uganda @chapterfourug, Alliance for Election Finance Monitoring @AcfimAfrica, Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda @HRNJUganda & the National NGO Forum @ngoforum have all been ordered by the NGO Bureau @NGObureau to suspend their activities. This is an extremely worrying development ahead of Thursday’s elections; the suspension must be lifted immediately. @geneva_uganda @UgandaMFA

#ssox Kindly be vigilant.

We’re grateful to Legal Action Worldwide team Ivy & @AmanyaJosephPe1 for the productive bilateral meeting held this morning. We exchanged ideas on our work and discussed potential collaborations on trainings in strategic litigation, legal assistance, and information.

I was glad to be in South Sudan during #16DaysOfActivism. Gender Based Violence is widespread and increasing. Many girls marry early: a teenage girl has more chance of dying in childbirth than finishing high school. 🇬🇧 will keep working for all girls’ rights and opportunities.

Ending the year with training in Advocacy and leadership to #whrds in Juba. Equipping women to push for friendlier policies that will encourage women activists to be bold. With support from #CFLI by the @CanSouthSudan #HappyHolidays🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Passionate about issues of gender parity, Ambassador-Designate #PelleEnarsson attended the recent GBV football match at Juba National Stadium, where he called for a collective effort to address gender based violence including digital ones. #16DaysOfActivism2025

On December 2, the Canadian Embassy joined its Canada Fund partner @sshrdNetwork in Juba to mark International Women’s Human Rights Defenders Day and celebrate women’s courage and resilience. Canada stands with women defending human rights and working for a future free from violence. #16Days #EndGBV #NoExcuse #CFLI 🇨🇦 🇸🇸