Hon. Nicodemus Ajaik, South Sudan Information Commissioner launches the 3-year Access to Information Strategic Plan during the Access to Information Day event in Juba (UNESCO Juba Office)
South Sudan joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information on 28 September 2021 under the theme “Right to Know-Rebuilding Communities with Access to Information.” The event brought together stakeholders from the government, media associations, journalists, CSOs, law fraternity and academicians that tackled issues on existing legal frameworks and the critical role of access to information in ensuring transparency and accountability by public institutions.
At this occasion, the South Sudan Information Commission launched Regulations on Access to Information, 2021 and two training manuals for CSOs and Public Information Officers, which were developed with UNESCO technical assistance. In his remarks, Hon. Moyiga Nduru Korokoto, Commissioner for Access to Information highlighted that having the launched documents in place is critical to facilitate the Commission’s efforts to realize access to information and ensure proactive Information disclosure by public institutions. Having policies in place and the willingness to implement them is critical to ensuring that targets such as access to information for everyone and other fundamental rights are achieved.
In addition, Mr. Tap Pant Raj, UNESCO Education Specialist urged stakeholders to continue implementation of constitutional, and policy guarantees for access to information and for State institutions and regulators to do their utmost to balance the right to privacy and the right to information when there is a potential conflict between them. Mr. Tap Raj also called on for public information to be availed in national languages and in a diversity of accessible formats with use of accessible technologies.
For his part, Mr. Samuel Doe, UNDP Country Representative called on journalists and media managers to always convey accurate, factual and well researched information to the public with the aim to curb misinformation, while at the same time using the media to promote peace, reconciliation and social cohesion and sustainable development.
This year’s national event was organized by the South Sudan Information Commission, with support from UNESCO’s Multi-Donor Programme on freedom of expression and safety of journalists, UNDP, NPA and Community Media Network South Sudan. Commemoration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information Day has been followed with a series of T.O.T workshops for CSOs and Journalists on the recently launched training manual for the CSOs.
Newer articles:
- EU grants $41 million to support rural communities in South Sudan - 11/10/2021 02:19
- African regional bloc loses 92 per cent tourism earnings due to Covid - 11/10/2021 01:48
- Egypt and South Sudan hold talks on Ethiopian dam dispute - 10/10/2021 17:55
- Machar consults media leaders over youth unemployment - 10/10/2021 03:00
- MTN Group to invest $120 million in South Sudan - 09/10/2021 20:09
Older news items
- South Sudan approves USD 10-milion relief aid to flood victims - 09/10/2021 02:16
- South Sudan fires agricultural bank director - 08/10/2021 23:11
- Turkey pledges support for flood victims in South Sudan - 08/10/2021 20:19
- Mines Advisory Group responds to catastrophic collapse in UK support for landmine clearance - 08/10/2021 02:32
- Over 600,000 people affected by floods and conflict in South Sudan - 08/10/2021 02:19
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan needs ‘civic education’ before elections, says bishop - 16/01/2025 16:42
- South Sudan parties set to resume peace talks in Kenya - 16/01/2025 16:39
- Abandoned but not forgotten – the invisible crisis in South Sudan - 16/01/2025 16:35
- The SAF has committed barbaric atrocities against South Sudanese refugees in Wad Medani - 16/01/2025 16:27
- Syria 2025: The historical Syrian project: From revolution to a modern inclusive civil state - 16/01/2025 16:10
Random articles (all categories):
- Crises and Deaths of Citizens as Politicians Get Rich on S. Sudan Natural Resources - 22/09/2017 09:26
- South Sudan Agrees Truce With Major Rebel Group - 28/02/2012 20:21
- South Sudan inflation eases to 65.6 pct in December - 06/01/2012 15:53
- VP Taban briefs president Kiir ahead of his trip to Ethiopia Djibouti - 17/09/2022 07:25
- Biden Needs to Do More Than Talk About Democracy in Africa - 28/01/2022 01:46
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 61758 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22308 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21496 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19063 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18818 times