Call for proposalFor the Provision of Legal Aid for Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) in Central Equatoria State (Juba)

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00127551 – Support to Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights

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Overview

1. Background

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, continues to grapple with the protracted effects of armed conflict, political, and economic instability. The civil wars of 2013 and 2016 significantly disrupted governance structures, weakened institutions, and left the justice system struggling to deliver equitable and timely services. The lack of rule of law infrastructure, under-resourced courts, and an acute shortage of trained legal professionals have created deep access-to-justice gaps for most of the South Sudan’s population—especially among the most vulnerable.

Among the groups disproportionately affected are Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), who face a triple layer of marginalization: poverty, social exclusion, and legal invisibility. In Central Equatoria State, where the capital Juba is located, many PLWDs are victims of conflict-related injuries, landmine explosions, and chronic health conditions worsened by limited access to medical care. Their situation is compounded by entrenched stigma, lack of disability-friendly infrastructure, and minimal understanding of disability rights among service providers and the general population.

Although South Sudan is a signatory to key international and regional human rights instruments—including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—implementation remains weak. National laws lack strong enforcement mechanisms for disability rights, and legal frameworks are often not aligned with international standards. In practice, PLWDs struggle to report crimes, defend their rights in civil disputes, or navigate the legal system due to legal illiteracy, mobility challenges, and the absence of tailored legal support services.

Customary and statutory legal systems operate in parallel, often inconsistent, and frequently exclude PLWDs from decision-making processes. Disputes involving land, inheritance, family matters, and gender-based violence are rarely resolved in a manner that protects the rights of disabled individuals, particularly women and girls with disabilities who face intersecting forms of discrimination.

Furthermore, with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in South Sudan—exacerbated by flooding, food insecurity, and the influx of refugees and returnees due to regional conflict—legal services for PLWDs have become even more urgent. The 2023 conflict in neighboring Sudan led to an influx of over 29,000 returnee households and thousands of refugees into Central Equatoria. This sudden increase in population has strained already limited social services, and PLWDs, whether among the host or displaced populations, face heightened vulnerability to neglect, exploitation, and abuse.

Despite the commitment of the government and civil society to promote human rights and rule of law, significant gaps remain in making legal services inclusive and accessible for PLWDs. Legal aid is virtually nonexistent for this group, and legal professionals often lack the training to handle cases involving disability rights. Many courts are not physically accessible, and no accommodation is made for PLWDs in legal procedures.

1. Rationale.

Despite South Sudan’s commitments under international and regional human rights instruments, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), gaps between policy and practice persist, limiting the ability of PLWDs to claim, exercise, and defend their rights.

Providing targeted legal aid to persons with disabilities is therefore essential to addressing entrenched inequalities and ensuring inclusive access to justice. PLWDs in Central Equatoria State, including Juba, face compounded barriers arising from conflict‑related injuries, stigma, inaccessible infrastructure, legal illiteracy, and the absence of disability‑responsive legal services. These challenges are further intensified by parallel statutory and customary justice systems that frequently exclude PLWDs—particularly women and girls with disabilities—from meaningful participation and fair outcomes in cases involving land, inheritance, family disputes, and gender‑based violence. As humanitarian pressures increase due to climate shocks, food insecurity, and the influx of refugees and returnees, PLWDs face heightened risks of neglect, exploitation, and abuse. Strengthening legal aid services tailored to persons with disabilities is therefore critical to safeguarding their rights, promoting accountability, and advancing an inclusive and equitable justice system in South Sudan.

1.  Objectives

Overall Objective:
Enhance access to justice for PLWDs in Central Equatoria State through the provision of legal aid, rights awareness, and policy advocacy within 5 months

Specific Objectives:

• Provide free legal aid; including advice and representation to PLWDs.
• Raise awareness among PLWDs about their legal rights and available redress mechanisms.
• Build the capacity of legal professionals on disability-inclusive justice.
• Advocate for inclusive legal frameworks and improved accessibility to justice institutions.