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Otto Abut|CRN – A mobile court deployed to Leer County in southern Unity State has concluded its operations after addressing a total of 57 criminal and civil cases, including murder, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and cases of forced and early marriage.
The court, established to deliver long-awaited justice to victims and their families, began its sessions on April 15 and concluded proceedings on May 8, 2025.
Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for UNMISS, Guang Cong, highlighted the significance of the mobile court in providing access to justice for vulnerable populations.
“Through the Leer mobile court, the Unity State government and the Judiciary of South Sudan enabled women, children, those living in poverty, and other marginalized segments of society to access justice and receive redress,” said Cong.
He further emphasized that the initiative demonstrated the importance of access to justice in reducing violence, resolving long-standing grievances, preventing the exploitation of women and children, and fostering peace and stability at the grassroots level.
“These joint efforts in remote areas of the country show that access to justice for all is crucial in ending violence, addressing deep-rooted issues, and enabling durable peace and stability to take root,” Cong added.
The court handled 32 criminal cases during its operation, resulting in 28 convictions. Eleven individuals were either acquitted or had their charges dismissed, and nine wrongfully incarcerated persons were released.
The court also held five members of the security forces accountable for sexual and gender based violence and convicted eight other individuals for similar offenses.
In preparation for the court’s deployment, 20 new investigators were trained in southern Unity State. UNMISS also facilitated the advance deployment of prosecutors and investigators to receive and process complaints, with over 100 cases reported during the mission.
Since February 2024, mobile courts in Mayom, Bentiu, and Leer have resolved 314 cases. The Leer mobile court initiative was funded by the Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Reconciliation, Stabilization and Resilience (RSRTF) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba.