South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network

The South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) is a non-profit, non-political civil society network registered with South Sudan's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) under registration number 2284. It is a coalition of civil society organizations and individuals working to protect and promote human rights in South Sudan. The network was established as an independent entity and partners with international and regional human rights organizations, including the Ugandan-based Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network (PAHRDN) and DefendDefenders. SSHRDN describes itself as a movement linking grassroots activists to regional and international human rights mechanisms. Its work is organized around core pillars that include protection and emergency response — providing rapid support for HRDs at risk through legal aid, medical care, and psychosocial assistance — as well as capacity building, advocacy, and digital security. The network reports a reach of more than 60 member organizations across all 10 states of South Sudan, with over 80 members cited on its homepage, and it has trained dozens of human rights defenders through workshops and clinics. The organization is headquartered in Juba, at CIC Plaza in the Hai Kololo area, and maintains a Juba-based team that handles confidential inquiries and support requests. It offers emergency assistance to at-risk HRDs, accepts membership applications from civil society organizations working on human rights in South Sudan, and provides secure channels for reporting human rights violations. Its public resources include a Safety and Security Toolkit, a monitoring and reporting video series, and advocacy templates. SSHRDN's activities include annual awards recognizing outstanding human rights defenders, a Youth Cluster launched in 2024 to provide digital assistance and training to young HRDs, and training programs on digital security, documentation, advocacy, strategic litigation, and wellbeing. In 2025 it launched a Strategic Plan covering 2025–2029. The network positions itself as a bridge between local activists and international human rights mechanisms, and it emphasizes confidentiality and the safety of those who contact it.

The South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) traces its establishment to 2012, according to its own impact reporting, and it was officially registered in 2019. It is registered with South Sudan's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) under registration number 2284 as a non-profit, non-political civil society network. The network was created as a coalition of civil society organizations and individuals dedicated to protecting and promoting human rights in South Sudan, and it was established as an independent entity that partners with international and regional human rights organizations, including the Ugandan-based Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network (PAHRDN) and DefendDefenders. Over the years, SSHRDN has grown into a movement linking grassroots activists to regional and international human rights mechanisms. Its reported reach includes more than 60 member organizations across all 10 states of South Sudan, with its homepage citing over 80 members. The network has developed core pillars of work that include protection and emergency response — rapid support for HRDs at risk through legal aid, medical care, and psychosocial assistance — alongside capacity building, advocacy, and digital security. Key milestones in its recent history include hosting the "Claiming Spaces" workshop in Juba in 2023, which strengthened leadership and interventions for SSHRDN members. In 2024, the network launched a Youth Cluster to provide digital assistance, training, and resources to young HRDs speaking up against violations, and it developed a comprehensive strategic plan document in partnership with Nonviolent Peaceforce and network clusters. Also in 2024, it held training and capacity-building activities such as an art therapy clinic in Wau that empowered 25 human rights defenders using artistic therapy for emotional expression, trauma healing, and psychosocial support; a psychosocial resilience and protection mainstreaming joint training with UJOSS (Union of Journalists) in Kuajok; and ongoing digital and youth training in Juba on digital advocacy tools, online security, lobbying, and leadership. The network also recognizes outstanding human rights defenders through annual awards; in 2024, James Ninrew was named Veteran HRD of the Year and Juma Tikol Marino was named Next Generation Youth HRD. In 2025, SSHRDN launched its Strategic Plan 2025–2029, setting out its direction for the coming years. The network continues to operate from its headquarters in Juba, at CIC Plaza in the Hai Kololo area, and maintains a Juba-based team that handles confidential inquiries and support requests. It offers emergency assistance to at-risk HRDs, accepts membership applications from civil society organizations working on human rights in South Sudan, and provides secure channels for reporting human rights violations. Its public resources include a Safety and Security Toolkit, a monitoring and reporting video series, and advocacy templates.

• 2025

  Launched Strategic Plan 2025–2029

• 2024

  Launched Youth Cluster; developed strategic plan with Nonviolent Peaceforce; held art therapy clinic in Wau; joint training with UJOSS in Kuajok; annual awards

• 2023

  Hosted "Claiming Spaces" workshop in Juba

• 2019

  Officially registered with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) under registration number 2284

• 2012

  SSHRDN established

A grassroots-to-global human rights network protecting and promoting human rights defenders in South Sudan.

1. 1Home - SouthSudan Human Rights Defenders Networksshrdn.org
2. 2About Us - SouthSudan Human Rights Defenders Networksshrdn.org
3. 3Contact - SouthSudan Human Rights Defenders Networksshrdn.org
4. 4Impacts - SouthSudan Human Rights Defenders Networksshrdn.org
5. 5South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network - Wikidatawikidata.org