“We want to see a difference in your reporting on gender issues”, says UNESCO

 

Bullen Kenyi, the chairperson of the board of directors of National Press Club South Sudan

JUBA, 20TH August, The National Press Club South Sudan in partnership with UNESCO has concluded a two-day workshop that trained more than 32 male and female journalists from different media houses on Gender Responsive reporting and safety for female journalists.

The training session was interactive and led to addressing issues and challenges that female journalists go through in the workplace. Journalists were also taught about human rights, Gender based Violence, gender and what step to take when facing harassment among other issues.

Bullen Kenyi, the chairperson of the board of directors of national press club South Sudan, says that the workshop has fulfilled the goal of bringing journalists from different platforms for training.

“The goal of the club is to bring together journalists to share their own experiences together. I believe this is the start, we will continue to have more and more workshops similar to these ones.  I will reiterate also my gratitude to UNESCO that has made it possible for this workshop to take place”, said Bullen Kenyi, chair of NPC SS board.

UNESCO representative, Doreen Gunne Wudu Loboka says that the workshop created a platform for journalists to share and receive information. She is encouraging journalists to learn from each other and to implement what they were taught from the workshop.

“We want to see a difference in your reporting when it comes to gender related issues. We want to see that the way you checked your images is it documentaries or face book whatever platform you are working with.  I want to say that it is better you take one thing from this workshop you don’t need to waste or burn resources we just come and sit and not make an impact”, said Doreen at the closing of the workshop.

She is encouraging journalists to be the voice of the community through the use of media as an instrument to create change in communities and the nation at large.
She has also expressed gratitude to the NPC for organizing the workshop and the efforts of the facilitators who shared knowledge during the workshop.

One of the participants, Susan Gitau who is an editor at classic FM, said that lengthier workshops should be added in the future that talks about the rights of male and female journalists in South Sudan.

“I believe that as much as the female journalists are suffering to the higher extent also the male journalists equally, they are getting a share of that so I would appeal that you have some time that will give us some lengthy training and also I want to appeal to all of us can we at least try to put in practice one or two things that we have grasped from this workshop”, said Susan Gitau of Classic FM.

Gitau urged journalists to look at stories with different perspectives which inspire hope and change.

NPC South Sudan will also extend more training for journalists at the state levels next month.

NPC South Sudan gender responsive workshop kick off in Juba

A group photo with participants, guest of honor, Gender Responsive Reporting and Safety for 25 Female Journalists mainly editors, managers and journalists based in Juba on 17th to 18th August, 2021

 

JUBA, 17th August, The National press club South Sudan has officially started a two-day workshop on enhancing Journalists Skills on gender Responsive Reporting and Safety of female journalists in South Sudan.

In an opening statement on Tuesday, Hon. Yath Awan Yath, the Undersecretary, Ministry of Information technology and Postal Services said the role of the media in the country is very crucial especially in civic education.

“We leave no person behind. It is time to think of issues of gender equality, equal chances but equality should also be seen when we are doing those things, these training is very important to our society”, Hon. Yath said.

Mr. Bullen Kenyi Yata, the chairperson of NPC-SS Board of directors at the official opening of the two-day training workshop said that journalists need to be equipped with the necessary knowledge to overcome this negative attitude towards women.

“The workshop is vital because it covers a crucial topic because most of our people are still influenced with cultural norms to the effect that they undermine the role of women in nation building”, said Bullen Kenyi during the event to the Journalists.
The workshop is aimed at covering editors, Media managers and journalists from public, private and freelance based in Juba and with plans for it to be extended to the various states of the Republic of South Sudan.

“We count on the media to be the ones who bring the process across about gender equality in all the areas that our society and our lives cover. We should hear more about these problems and how gender equality is being promoted in all the SGDs in South Sudan”, said Mr. Julius Banda, the director of UNESCO South Sudan.

Michael Duku, AMDISS executive Director, thanked the management of National Press Club for having this function today, particularly as a new institution that has helped with the media intervention.

“The work that AMDISS is doing is not enough to serve the whole country so having NPC, with intervention of training and capacity building is a complementary work to the work that we are doing for that matter I really appreciate that”, Duku added.

Sapana Abui, Director-General of the Media Authority said the female journalists face more challenges than their male counterparts. He further said as a regulatory body their responsibility is the safety of Journalists.

“They are not given their rights as entitled; others are even denied maternity leave. This is because they are looked at as being weak and discriminated”, Abui told the participants.

NPC-SS, SSHRDN visited Jonglei to strengthen better working relationships with State actors

National Press Club South Sudan NPC-SS together with the representatives from the South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) visited Jonglei State today and met with the Advisor to the Governor on Human Rights as well as the State’s Human Rights body, 12th August 2021

 

Bor, Jonglei 12 August, 2021  National Press Club South Sudan NPC-SS together with the representatives from the South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) visited Jonglei State today and met with the Advisor to the Governor on Human Rights Simon Manyok as well as the State’s chairman of Human Rights commission at the State Mr. Deng Aruei on Thursday.

NPC-SS program coordinator Mr. Poverty Alfred calls for mutual cooperation with the state stakeholders to understand matters related to human rights in order to enhance the gaps in the media sector in the state and the country as a whole.

On his part, Hon.Manyok said journalists in Jonglei require training on South Sudan code of conduct for journalists and the Media Laws to enable them to do their work professionally.

“Journalists should balance their stories as they report on matters happening in the state”
Said Monyok during the meeting.

However,  the representative of the SSHRDN Mr. John Ador urged the government to have plans to share various ideas on how to handle occurrences of the violations of human rights in the state.

Jonglei is among the state NPC-SS and SSHRDN to reach to understand and think of better modalities to improve relationships.

National Press Club legal advisor welcomes the release of Journalist Majur Chol Khor

National Press Club management, legal advisor in a group photo after meeting Journalist Majur Chol Khor upon his releases on 5th August, 2021

JUBA, 7 August 2021 National Press Club  South Sudan (NPC-SS) legal Advisor Adv. Godfrey Victor Bulla, and entire management this Friday August 6, 2021 at the office met with Mr. Majur Chol khor, a South Sudanese Journalist who was arrested and detained on  May 30, 2021 after spending 68 days in police custody and Juba Central Prison over social issue (with in-law) not related to his journalistic work.

Adv. Godfrey took his case to the central Prison and managed to settle the issue between the two families that led to his release from the central prison on August 5,2021.

“I’m profoundly honored to extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the entire management of National Press Club of South Sudan and legal advisor, Molana Godfrey, for standing in solidarity with me since the date of my detention until I was released. Thought my case was not related to journalism but you stood with me”, Majur said at the meeting.

Although his arrest had no relationship to his journalistic work, the National Press Club South Sudan legal advisor believes that social issues are part of our living and therefore, can be resolved at all cost.

National Press Club management wished him all the best in his journalistic work.

National Press Club South Sudan says Trafficking in Persons is crucial issue internationally and South Sudan is not an exception

National Press Club South Sudan says trafficking in Persons is crucial issue internationally and South Sudan is not an exception

 

Speaking at the forum first counsel Sabri Wani said that Trafficking in persons (TIP) 5 August 2021

JUBA, 4 August- The National Press Club South Sudan participated and moderated the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons which is marked every year on July 30. The event was held at the University of Juba faculty of Law aimed to create awareness around people who are being trafficked and are taken away against their will. It will also help to educate others that trafficking in persons is a crime exploiting even women and children for tragic jobs like forced labour and sex.

During the event as a moderator NPC-SS program coordinator Mr. Poverty Alfred Taban urged fellow South Sudanese to stay alert and orient each other on Human trafficking in persons in the Country and line ministries and task force should conduct continues awareness on this vital issue of concern.

This will give an opportunity to understand the harms of human trafficking and its impact on the life of the people.

Speaking at the forum first counsel Sabri Wani said that Trafficking in persons (TIP) is a crucial issue internationally and South Sudan is not an exception to the matter and the Government is monitoring into the Traffickers through the ministry of Interior from the boarders and within as it may occur in the various communities.

Among the panelists are UNASS the organizing national organization, UN IOM, CSO, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the members of South Sudan national task force on countering trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.