NPC-SS Hosts Friendly Football Match to Commemorate International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

 

Aweil, November 2, 2023 – The National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS), in collaboration with UNESCO, organized a friendly football match between Northern Bhar-el Ghazal Police FC and Aweil Media FC to commemorate the International Day to End Impunity (IDEI) for Crimes against Journalists.

 

The match, held on November 2, 2023, at Aweil Freedom Square, concluded with a 1-0 victory for Northern Bhar-el Ghazal Police FC.

 

 

The event brought together representatives from the State government ministries and stakeholders, including UNESCO, Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Aweil.

 

 

The primary objective of the match was to foster solidarity and create an enabling environment between the two institutions. It followed a two-day training on Freedom of Expression, Access to Information, and Safety of Journalists conducted for the Northern Bhar-el Ghazal Police from October 31 to November 1, 2023.

 

 

During the closing ceremony of the friendly match, Mr. Oliver Modi Philip, the lead facilitator of the training and Managing Director of Equator Broadcasting Cooperation, expressed his gratitude to both teams for showcasing their talent and fostering a sense of togetherness through football.

 

 

Mr. Oliver commended the National Press Club for their continuous efforts in creating an enabling environment for media workers in South Sudan and promoting unity and understanding among various stakeholders to ensure media freedom and access to information as public goods. He added, “This initiative, which NPC-SS initiated last year during World Press Freedom Day in Wau and continued today, exemplifies a sense of nationalism and patriotic solidarity.”

 

 

NPC-SS, with support from UNESCO, previously used a similar approach during the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) in 2022. On that occasion, a friendly match was held between the National Security Team and Wau Media Star in Western Bhar-el Ghazal.

 

NPC-SS Conducts Successful Training Workshop to Promote Freedom of Expression and Journalist Safety

 

AWEIL, November 1, 2023 – The National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS) has successfully concluded a two-day Training of Trainers (T.O.T.) workshop in Aweil, aimed at equipping law enforcement agencies with essential knowledge to promote freedom of expression, enhance communication with the media, and ensure the safety of journalists.

 

Supported by UNESCO, the workshop brought together key stakeholders to address the growing concerns regarding clashes between journalists and security forces.

 

 

The event commenced with an opening session where notable figures delivered remarks highlighting the significance of the workshop’s objectives, which aim to foster a positive working relationship between security officers and journalists.

 

 

The guest of honor, Commissioner of Police for Northern Bhar-el Ghazal Maj. Gen. Philip Madut Tong, thanked NPC-SS and UNESCO for taking the initiative to train police officers in Aweil. Recognizing the complementary roles of journalists and the police in society, Maj. Gen. Philip Madut emphasized the importance of facilitating journalists’ access to information, particularly during the upcoming election period.

 

 

Doreen Loboka, the Information and Communication specialist of UNESCO, emphasized that freedom of expression and access to information are fundamental human rights and constitutional rights for every citizen, as prescribed in the interim constitution of South Sudan. She highlighted the role of the police in guaranteeing freedom of expression and stated that UNESCO closely collaborates with law enforcement agencies to create an enabling environment for the exercise of this fundamental right.

 

 

The workshop addressed three key responsibilities of the police. Firstly, it emphasized the duty of the police to protect journalists from arbitrary arrests and harassment with impunity. Secondly, it highlighted the importance of building trust and fostering a collaborative relationship between the security forces and journalists.

 

Ms. Doreen Loboka further stressed that freedom of expression is a crucial element for fostering development and promoting democratic governance in South Sudan.

 

Mr. Ochaya James, the Executive Director of NPC-SS, outlined the organization’s role in developing the media landscape in South Sudan. He emphasized the primary objective of the workshop, which was to empower trainers to deliver comprehensive courses on these critical topics at both national and state levels.

 

The workshop also sought to improve the curricula of law enforcement training institutes by incorporating new modules or courses.

 

 

Mr. Ochaya urged participants to utilize the knowledge gained to build a holistic relationship between the police and journalists, encouraging the police to intervene if a journalist is mistreated by any of the organized forces.

 

 

The collaborative efforts between the National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS), law enforcement agencies, and UNESCO aim to enhance professionalism and strengthen the relationship between the media and the police in South Sudan. Ultimately, this initiative seeks to foster an environment that upholds freedom of expression and ensures the safety of journalist

 

NPC-SS donates Sports uniforms to Journalists and Police in Aweil ahead of friendly match

Aweil, November 1, 2023 – The National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS), in collaboration with UNESCO, is pleased to announce the donation of two kits of branded sports uniform to the Northern Bhar-el Ghazal Police FC and Aweil Media FC.
This donation is part of the International Day to End Impunity program in Aweil and aims to promote solidarity and create an enabling environment between the two institutions.
The handover ceremony took place today in the presence of various dignitaries, including Mrs. Bakitha Lado, the UNESCO representative, and Mr. Barnabas Aguer, the Director General for the State Ministry of Information, and representatives from the government and media houses.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ochaya James, the Executive Director of the National Press Club South Sudan, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to support this initiative.
He highlighted that this is not the first time NPC-SS and UNESCO have collaborated on such activities, citing a similar donation during the 2022 World Press Freedom Day. On that occasion, NPC-SS and UNESCO donated sets of uniforms to the National Security Team and Wau Media Star in Western Bhar-el Ghazal.
Mr. Ochaya emphasized the unifying power of sports and its ability to promote peace and strengthen relationships within society.
He reaffirmed NPC’s commitment to organizing friendly matches as part of their vision to create a conducive environment for media workers in South Sudan.
The friendly match between the Northern Bhar-el Ghazal Police FC and Aweil Media FC is scheduled to take place on November 2, 2023.
NPC-SS and UNESCO look forward to witnessing this event, which serves as a testament to the strong bond between journalists and the police force. The National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS) is a non-profit and nongovernmental organization dedicated to promoting press freedom and supporting media workers in South Sudan.