A two-day training program on conflict mitigation was initiated this week by a consortium of Civil Society Organizations. The participating organizations include Nonviolent Peaceforce, Human Rights Defenders Network in South Sudan, and the Union of Journalists in South Sudan (UJOSS).
The training, held in Yambio, Western Equatoria State, aims to equip 20 journalists and civil society members with practical skills in conflict mitigation, rumor control, and nonviolent communication strategies.
During the opening session, Gisma Magara, the Women Protection Officer at Human Rights Defenders Network (HRDN), emphasized the significance of the workshop in enhancing the capacity of journalists and human rights defenders to effectively address conflicts across the country.
Magara stressed the importance of basing advocacy efforts on truth and evidence rather than rumors and encouraged participants to share their experiences and knowledge with one another.
“As an activist, you are advocating for the rights of others. For you to effectively advocate for the rights of others, you must know the truth and avoid depending on rumors. You must present issues that are based on evidence. So, in this training, we expect that you will learn many new things, but also, more importantly, we hope to learn from you, the participants. We shall all learn from the experiences that each participant brings to this training. We have not come here to give you what we have since you are already in the field and practicing journalism and defending human rights, so you know better than us,” Gisma explained.
Ruot George, a representative of UJOSS, affirmed the organization’s commitment to protecting journalists, advocating for their well-being, and building their professional capabilities.
He acknowledged that this training opportunity in Yambio, Western Equatoria State, marked the third such program organized this year.
George expressed his belief that the acquired skills would enable journalists to report accurately, contributing to the country’s democratic process. He also mentioned the upcoming elections expected to be held next year after a prolonged period without any electoral activity since the last general elections when Southern Sudan was part of Sudan in 2010.
“Our primary focus is to develop professionalism through capacity building, as it is essential for journalists to differentiate between ethical considerations and personal opinions. This training is a vital step in that direction,” Ruot stated in his address to the workshop participants.