By Hou Akot Hou
Hope Africa South Sudan, (HASS), a national organization is training 25 media practitioners in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state on transitional justice mechanisms.
The three-day training which attracted journalists from various media outlets, kicked off on Wednesday in Aweil town and will end on Friday.
HASS, executive director, Aduol Aduol Aduol Yel, told the participants that the program to train all journalists in Bahr El-Ghazal region started in Wau and before it proceeded to Aweil.
“We have got a funding from UNDP to strengthen the capacity and reporting skills of journalists on transitional justice process. This is part of the revitalized agreement which is in the roadmap,” said Aduol
He added that they will exert their efforts to ensure that other states in Bahr El Ghazal such as Warrap and Lakes states will receive similar trainings.
“We have finished in Wau, and now in Aweil. Our subsequent trips are going to be Warrap and Lakes and our target is only 25 journalists due to funding challenges.”
According to Aduol, the participants were selected through Union of Journalists (UJOSS) and Information Ministries in the states.
Northern Bahr El Ghazal state information minister, William Anyuon Kuol, officially opened the training.
He said journalists are sources of information and the chapter five in the peace accord talks a lot about the transitional justice on which a conference is being conducted in Juba.
“You are mouthpieces of information on how justice, reconciliation and healing will take place” he said.
Anyuon advised the media practitioners to be ethical in their reporting, especially during the time of transitional justice which is going to demand their roles on sensitization.
“The hybrid courts will be set up as president had recently alluded to.”
The United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) is helping the local authorities through National NGOs, sensitizing people to understand the role of transitional justice committees.