Representatives from Journalist for Human Rights, 

Members of the Fourth Estate, 

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Good afternoon!

Let me begin by congratulating all of you for attending this workshop designed to provide you, members of the media with a forum to discuss the ongoing Revitalization process of the ARCSS. 

I hope that these two days have given you an opportunity to hear the facts as opposed to opinions and anecdotes. I hope too that you have been provided with the tools to carry out your vital role as the members of the Fourth Estate, to speak to and for the people and tell the truth. 

Even as I address you today, the process of revitalizing the ARCSS is proceeding, one step at a time, reaching yet more important milestones since it begun in December 2017.  

Substantial progress has been made and continues to be achieved in Khartoum, on outstanding issues concerning Governance, Security and responsibility sharing. The Parties have agreed on representation of women at the highest level. Of the proposed four Vice Presidents, one will be a Woman. Women will also make up thirty- five percent of the National Executive. This is indeed encouraging, that women can play an integral role in the peacebuilding efforts in South Sudan.  

I am convinced that the Parties to the conflict will build on this progress, adhere to the signed Agreements and give prominence to the promotion of peace and reconciliation of the peace process. 

The Regional Community, the International Community, the Government and people of South Sudan, must not let up for one moment on the progress we have achieved these last months. We must support every effort the government and the people have now taken in the effort of rebuilding this country for future posterity. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

We need to continue the dialogue on peace, reaching out to communities to explain the facts of the peace process, discover what they know and dispel rumours and untruths. We must encourage the people to talk about their experiences, fears and expectations. Inclusivity is not simply all the Parties to the Conflict; it is about all the people of South Sudan, rich and poor, young and old alike. 

There will be no long term peace without reconciliation and inter- communal integration. In Your reporting, you must be able to ask; What does that mean to a simple woman who has lost her children or to young men who have never known a life without fighting? How will the people come to terms with the awful damage that has afflicted the country for the past five years?

I believe the answers lie with two elements of society, the youth and women. Looking around the hall, I can see that both are well represented here today. I am told that you are also an enthusiastic and questioning audience. It is heartening that we have a media in this country that is adventurous and brave despite the challenges that you face in your profession. A free and open media is vital to any democracy and South Sudan is no exception. 

Impartial, fact-based reporting underpins democracy, and ensures transparency in the institutions of government. It encourages the people to question the authorities and seek the truth, for without truth there is no trust.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I hope that these two days have in a way provided the skills and knowledge essential to your vital task of shining the light on the Peace Process, enabling you to explain in layman’s terms the complicated and arcane language of politics and diplomacy.

I urge you to establish and adhere to a level of objective truth and avoid the modern trend of appealing to emotions. Your task is even harder in the era of social media when almost anything can be said and circulated on social media sites like Facebook, WhatsApp and others and be taken for the gospel truth.

I wish all of you the best of luck in your chosen profession, knowing that you have not taken an easy path in life and that your task is vital to the future of this wonderful young country South Sudan. 

Finally, I want to thank Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) for partnering with us JMEC in convening this workshop, and to thank all of you for your very active participation. 

With these few remarks, it is my pleasure to now declare this workshop officially closed.

God bless You all and may He Bless all the people of South Sudan. 

Thank you very much!