By Richard Sultan
Authorities in South Sudan have been urged to end impunity and violence against the media.
The Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) and Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) also raised a red flag over increasing violence against journalists.
CEPO and UJOSS say there is need to apprehend perpetrators of any form of aggression against journalists.
Their plea comes when the world takes stock of progress made in realizing press freedom.
Today, the world marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
“The issue if impunity against journalists in South Sudan is real and clear evidence that freedom of expression and the rights to information is still problematic in the country,” read a joint statement by Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO and Oyet Patrick, the President of UJOSS.
The role of journalists in this country remains crucial especially during this time of the peace agreement implementation, constitution making process and elections slated for 2023.
UJOSS and CEPO urged the Media Authority of South Sudan, Information Commission and the Communication Authority to take the lead in ending impunity against journalists.
“The development of the Code of Conduct for journalist by the Media Authority of South Sudan is a great step towards correcting the situation of impunity against journalists,” they said.
CEPO and UJOSS will partner with the Media Authority to disseminate the journalist’ code of conduct,” read part of the statement.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed November 2nd as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ in General Assembly Resolution A/RES/68/163.
The date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013.
