Ascent from the Abyss in South Sudan: National Human Rights Institutions and Fragile Peacebuilding

This repository contains the master's thesis "Ascent from the Abyss in South Sudan: National Human Rights Institutions and Fragile Peacebuilding." The thesis examines the role of the South Sudan Human Rights Commission (SSHRC) in post-conflict peacebuilding in the Republic of South Sudan. It explores how National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights, accountability, and institutional reconstruction in societies emerging from prolonged violent conflict. Situated within broader debates on post-conflict peacebuilding, the study investigates how sustainable peace is linked to the rule of law, human rights protection, security, and inclusive governance. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research draws on documentary analysis, legal and institutional records, and semi-structured interviews to examine the SSHRC's peacebuilding role within South Sudan's fragile governance environment. The findings demonstrate that the SSHRC contributes to peacebuilding through human rights monitoring, documentation of violations, public education, advocacy, engagement with state institutions, and support for accountability processes. However, its effectiveness is constrained by financial dependence, political interference, limited enforcement authority, weak institutional coordination, and persistent insecurity. The thesis introduces the concepts of embedded neutrality and the dependency–impunity feedback loop to explain how structural and political constraints shape the capacity of NHRIs to fulfil their mandates in post-conflict settings. It argues that the contribution of NHRIs to sustainable peace depends not only on their legal mandates but also on the institutional, political, and governance conditions under which they operate. This repository is intended to support the dissemination of scholarly research on human rights, peacebuilding, transitional justice, and governance in conflict-affected societies. Please cite this Zenodo record when referencing or using this work.