South Sudan Human Rights Commission
SSHRC
Summary
The South Sudan Human Rights Commission was established by the Human Rights Commission Act 2009 and enshrined in Article 145 of the Transitional Constitution 2011. It is mandated to receive and investigate complaints of human rights violations by security and law-enforcement agencies, conduct unannounced visits to prisons and police detention facilities, and submit annual reports to the National Legislative Assembly. Commissioners are appointed by the legislature from nominations of civil society and must be civilians; sworn police officers may not serve. The Commission has no binding disciplinary authority — findings are referred to the Attorney General or published in public reports. Evidence access is restricted by the cooperation of security agencies, and active conflict has severely limited field operations since 2013.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Legislative appointment |
|---|---|
| Term length | 5 years |
| Removal standard | For cause only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | No |
| Compel testimony | No |
| Records access | Restricted |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Human Rights Commission Act 2009; Transitional Constitution of South Sudan 2011, Article 145
- Citation
- Human Rights Commission Act 2009; Transitional Const. 2011, Art. 145
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
All of South Sudan; investigates human rights violations by state actors including police, National Security Service, SSPDF, and inspects prisons and detention facilities.