National human rights institutions and the promotion of women rights: a case of human rights commission in Juba South Sudan.

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the effectiveness of the South Sudan Human Rights Commission in the promotion of women rights in Juba, South Sudan. The objectives of this study were to examine: the influence of advocacy by the South Sudan Human Rights Commission on the promotion of women rights in Juba, South Sudan; to assess the contribution of documentation/reporting by the South Sudan Human Rights Commission towards the promotion of women rights in Juba, South Sudan and to examine the influence of awareness raising by the South Sudan Human Rights Commission on the promotion of women rights in Juba, South Sudan. A descriptive research design focused was used with a quantitative approach in generating the required information. In this study, there were 75,000 individuals from which 382 respondents were drawn using a Morgan & Krejcie table of sample size determination. Data was collected using survey questionnaires and the SPSS software package version 25 was used for data analysis. The findings revealed that access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities remains limited for many women in South Sudan, particularly in rural areas. It was also revealed that SSHRC uses documented evidence and reports for policy reforms and legal protections for women's rights. The study concludes that while the SSHRC is recognized for mobilizing public support and engagement through rallies, protests, and social media campaigns, collaboration with civil society organizations, women's groups, and grassroots movements is viewed with disagreement by a significant portion of respondents, highlighting potential gaps in engagement and collaboration. The study recommends that SSHRC should strengthen and expand awareness campaigns and workshops on gender equality, targeting diverse audiences. The study further suggests that SSHRC should develop and implement clear protocols and mechanisms for systematic documentation of women's rights violations, ensuring accurate and comprehensive records that can serve as a foundation for evidence-based advocacy and policy reform.