South Sudan: 50 journalists to be trained on refugees, internally displaced persons

A three-day training on refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees’ issues (within the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan) to be held in the capital city, Juba between January 14 and 16. 50 South Sudanese journalists will reportedly be benefited from the training.

“It is aimed at enhancing capacities of South Sudanese journalists on accurate reporting on refugees, IDPs and returnees concerns in accordance with the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS),” Community Empowerment for Progress Organization’s executive director, Edmund Yakani opined.

According to Edmund Yakani, the training, which is slated to take place in mid-January, is likely to equip the journalists with skills for accurate reporting on refugees, IDPs and returnees’ issues in the peace deal signed in September 2018. “Through various survey reports of CEPO, it was realized that majority of the journalists have inadequate knowledge and skills on reporting on refugees, IDPs and returnees matters accurately,” Yakani urged.

According to Sunday Tribune, the project was designed by CEPO’s program of partnership with journalists on R-ARCSS, aimed at empowering journalists with knowledge and skills to consistency and accurately report on refugees and returnees during the peace accord implementation. To be conducted in all the country’s states, Yakani said the three-day training would influence the upcoming African Union (AU) head of states and governments from the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) will take place from 15 January to 11 February 2019, under the theme “Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”.

“A written petition will be presented to the African Union South Sudan mission to be shared at its summit on matters related to South Sudanese refugees, IDPs and returnees settings,” he added.

The conflict in war-torn South Sudan has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since it broke out in mid-December, 2013. Also, at least two million people, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), are internally displaced within South Sudan.