Built by women
lawyers who refused
to wait for
permission to act.
FIDA South Sudan was founded on a simple observation: legal training alone doesn't protect women. Institutions do. So we built one.
From a discussion among colleagues to a national institution
The Federation of Women Lawyers South Sudan (FIDA SS) was founded in 2010 by members of the South Sudan Women Lawyers Association. It began with a hard observation: deeply rooted cultural practices, gender inequality, and weak legal enforcement were leaving women and girls exposed to violence, discrimination, and exclusion — with little recourse.
The women lawyers who founded FIDA SS recognized that negative social and cultural practices were preventing women from fully participating in public life and in the development of their own communities, while increasing their vulnerability to gender-based violence. An institution focused specifically on women's rights — beyond a general developmental framework — was needed.
From early grassroots legal literacy work and community forums, FIDA SS has grown into one of South Sudan's most trusted legal aid providers. In justice-sector assessments, it continues to be named among the most known and respected legal aid organizations in the country — particularly among rural communities.
"Through conflict, displacement, and a fragile peace process, FIDA SS has remained constant: documenting violations, representing survivors, training police and judiciary, and pushing for the protections South Sudanese women deserve."
Vision, mission and values
A just South Sudan, where women's dignity, rights, and equality are respected, protected, and promoted.
To strengthen the capacity of women and institutions to promote justice, gender equality, peacebuilding, and women's participation — through legal aid, advocacy, capacity building, and policy engagement.
Who runs the work day to day
Susan Poni Victor
Executive Officer
Emmanuela Pita Pitia
Program Manager / Senior Counsel
Christina Ayuob
Legal Aid Officer
James Gatnyang
Legal Aid Officer
Victor Gumete
Finance and Administration
Partners and affiliations
FIDA SS works in close partnership with national institutions and international organizations, and holds active membership in regional and national coalitions advancing the same goals.
Key Partners
- UNDP
- UNMISS
- UN Women
- UNESCO
- GIZ
- SIHA Network
- Legal Action Worldwide
- CARE
- OXFAM
- Justice Africa
- Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare
- Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
Memberships and Coalitions
- South Sudan Women's Bloc
- South Sudan Civil Society Forum
- Women Parliamentary Caucus
- Transitional Justice Working Group
- GBV Cluster Technical Working Group
- Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC)
- Federation Internationale Des Avocates (FIDA) — global network
- Eastern and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network
Want to know more
about how we work?
See what fifteen years of legal aid, advocacy, and survivor support has actually achieved.