The National Press Club South Sudan, a non-profit and non-governmental media organization, is conducting a three-day media laws workshop involving different stakeholders in Wau, Western Bahr al Ghazal State.
The workshop, which started on Tuesday, brought about 25 participants from different media houses, members of the organized forces, civil society representatives and lawyers.
It focuses on enlightening the parties on Transitional Constitution and the international legal documents like the universal declaration for human rights.
Among others are the national framework for freedom of expression and media laws in South Sudan as well as the Media Authority Act 2013, the Right of Access to Information Act and the Broadcasting Act 2013.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the country’s club program coordinator Alfred Taban said the imperative of the workshop is to bridge the gaps between the state actors and the media.
“We have noted that there is a gap in the relationship between the state which is the government, different departments or ministries for instance the security sector and the civil societies with journalists and media practitioners in the Republic of South Sudan,” said Taban.
“We think as a national press club, the only way according to our vision of creating a conducive working environment for journalists and media practitioners in the country is the idea that we bring all these different stakeholders to come and discuss together so that they can understand their roles are people working in a government,” he said.
For his part, the State Minister of Information and Telecommunication said the workshop comes at the right time for all stakeholders in the area to sort out the perception of the media’s role there.
Nicola Samuel vowed to work together with media outlets operating in the state for the good of the people.
“If there is any wrong perception between the media houses and the stakeholder whether law enforcement agencies or any sort of authority in the country, I can say this is the right place and the right time to sort out those differences and to find a common ground for conducive and good working between us,” said Samuel.
Mr. Samuel claimed the government is upholding all fundamental human rights principles in ensuring the right to free press freedom in the country.
“We in government are those that are upholding the human rights and their fundamental responsibilities to ensure that journalists are free to practice their professions without interference,” he said.