UJOSS, partners launches a three-day workshop on the process of creating a permanent constitution.

By Wek Atak Kacjang

The Union of Journalists of South Sudan, in collaboration with the government and their partners, UNMISS and JICA, has launched a three-day workshop on the permanent constitution-making process. The workshop has brought together over eighty journalists from across the country.

Oyet Patrick Charles said he appreciates the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs in the Republic of South Sudan for attending this very important event for us as journalists.

“This is a critical workshop for journalists on the role of journalists in the constitution-making process. We are at an important juncture in our nation’s history. The constitution-making process of 2022 has laid the legal framework for drafting our permanent constitution, but making a constitution is not just about producing a document. It is about producing the supreme law of the land, the law that will be the foundation for all laws in the country. Therefore, the people of South Sudan must be involved in the making of this law that will be the foundation of all laws in the country.

He added that “we believe that the media and journalists are very critical because the media and journalists are the link between the National Constitutional Review Commission and the general public in ensuring that accurate information regarding the constitution is passed to the people, carrying out civic education, and encouraging the people to participate in the constitution-making process. We recognize that reporting on constitution-making in South Sudan requires not only journalistic skills but also a deep understanding of our unique historical context and the sensitivities involved. Your ability to foster constructive dialogue, promote national cohesion, and hold all stakeholders accountable is paramount.

This is a national project, a collective endeavor that requires the active participation of every South Sudanese by equipping you with the necessary knowledge and tools. We aim to enhance your capacity to contribute meaningfully to this historic process. We encourage you to engage actively, ask critical questions, and leverage your platform to facilitate an inclusive and informed public discourse.

Let us commit to working together to ensure that the voices of all South Sudanese people from every state and community are heard and reflected in the permanent constitution that will come. Your reporting will be instrumental in building trust, promoting civic education, and ultimately securing a foundation for a democratic and peaceful future for our beloved nation. Therefore, I end by thanking the members of NCRC who are here, especially those from the civic education and public consultation committee and the members of the secretariat, plus colleagues who traveled from the state.

“We urge our donors, our partners to continue to support this kind of activity so that we can reach as many journalists as possible across the country for a constitution that will come out of consultation with people and having the views of South Sudanese people,” Oyet said.

Dr. Grace Mahina from UNMISS said, “I want to take this opportunity to thank our partners, the Union of Journalists, for coming up with this spectacular initiative because it’s a good opportunity when we can come together, think together, be inspired, listen, and talk about the constitution. We also want to thank JICA. JICA did a fantastic job of bringing people from the field.

It’s very difficult sometimes to have a conversation between Dubai and the field. When they were able to bring these people from the field and to bring them here, we’re extremely grateful for that opportunity, and we want to thank JICA, our partners. We’re also thankful that you were all able to come and spend the day here and learn about the constitution.

Guy Bennet, Director for Political Affairs, Division, on behalf of UNMISS, I’m honored to welcome you to this important workshop on the role of journalists in the constitution-making process. Let me begin by acknowledging the essential role you as journalists and communications professionals play in shaping public understanding, promoting accountability, and upholding democratic principles.

” Your work is not only about reporting facts; it’s about connecting citizens to the processes that define their nation’s future, allowing them to formulate personal yet informed opinions. The drafting of a permanent constitution-making process marks a major milestone in South Sudan’s path towards peace, stability, and democratic governance. It is more than a legal exercise; it’s a moment for the people of this country to define their structure, values, and identity of their state.” Bennet said.

It allows them to define what it means to be South Sudanese. The 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement rightly emphasized that this must be an inclusive and participatory process. And in line with this, the National Constitutional Review Commission has launched a civic education and public consultation exercise to ensure that the voices of all South Sudanese are reflected.

So now your role becomes indispensable. As journalists, you already know you’re not just observers. You are facilitators of dialogue and agencies of transparency.

Your job is not just to spread misinformation and hate speech, but to help counter it. Your reporting ensures that people across the country, from every community and background, are informed, engaged, and able to participate meaningfully in shaping their constitution. By monitoring the implementation of the Constitution Making Process Act of 2022, you will also protect the integrity of the process itself.

This workshop is an opportunity to further strengthen that role. Over the next three days, I hope you will deepen your understanding of the constitutional frameworks, explore best practices in ethical and inclusive reporting, and contribute your insights to the development of a media strategy for this process. It is also a chance to collaborate with peers, civil society, and the institutions driving this important work.

“I encourage you to make the most of this opportunity, engage actively, ask questions, challenge assumptions, share experiences between Juba, state capitals, and the rest of the country, and work together to ensure that the constitution-making process truly belongs to the people and that every citizen, through your voices and platforms, is heard and empowered. Thank you for your commitment, your professionalism, and your courage. I wish you all a productive and inspiring workshop,”