South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) concluded its annual general meeting on Friday, July 26th, 2024. This is the fourth annual general meeting since the network was established in 2012.
The two-day deliberation which started on Thursday, validated last year’s minutes, activities, achievements, opportunities, and challenges.
Sixty delegates from Juba, states, and Administrative Areas representing civil society organizations, media, activists, and academia reviewed and adopted the network’s constitution changes.
The network reported 46 cases of human rights defenders’ arrest, harassment, and intimidation. This was attributed to shrinking political and civic spaces. Other challenges were funding, renewal of licenses, and the employment market where staff kept moving from one institution to another.
The conferees discussed a five-year strategic plan, clusters’ work, human rights security and safety, research findings, and upcoming advocacy campaigns based on the research evidence.
According to the adopted network’s constitution the board of trustees shall serve for two terms of three years each. The current steering committee automatically becomes the first board of trustees chaired by Mr. Edmond Yakani. The network secretariat is led by the Executive Director Mr. James Bidal.
Mr. Mayuol Diing Mayuol, a state focal point representing Northern Bahr El Gazal State emphasized on inclusivity of the network activities, especially state-based members.
