By Sabri Dibaco
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Human Rights Division has urged journalists to strengthen reporting on human rights violations, expose abuses and promote accountability through ethical and responsible journalism.
The call was made during a one-day strategic engagement with journalists in South Sudan on November 11, aimed at strengthening cooperation between media practitioners and human rights institutions in documenting and reporting violations.
Director of the UNMISS Human Rights Division and Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in South Sudan, Dr. Musa Yerro Gassama, said journalists have an important responsibility to expose human rights abuses and ensure that violations do not go unnoticed.
Gassama emphasised that the engagement was not simply about raising awareness but about translating discussions and professional knowledge into practical action.
“Human rights violations thrive in silence,” Gassama said, urging journalists to play an active role in bringing violations to public attention.
He further stressed that visibility is an important step towards accountability, noting that public reporting creates opportunities for authorities and relevant institutions to address human rights challenges.
“Accountability begins with visibility. The more we get it out there, the more we have the opportunity to deal with the challenges we are facing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senior Women’s Protection Adviser at the Human Rights Division’s Women’s Protection Advisory Unit, Sheila B. Keetharuth, highlighted the need for journalists to exercise particular caution when reporting conflict-related sexual violence.
She said survivors, including women, girls, boys and men, must be treated with dignity, respect and sensitivity to avoid exposing them to further harm.
“We also talked about how to report on conflict-related sexual violence to cause no harm and to ensure that survivors, be it women, girls, boys, or men, keep their dignity and are treated with the respect they deserve,” Keetharuth said.
She also raised concerns about trial by the media and the importance of ensuring that human rights reporting does not compromise the rights of individuals or undermine the dignity of survivors.
Keetharuth welcomed the engagement, saying it provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between journalists and human rights actors. She also expressed interest in further discussions on how survivors are portrayed in media coverage.
Gassama thanked journalists for sharing their experiences, recommendations and concerns, saying the Human Rights Division would review their contributions to guide future collaboration.
The engagement comes as part of a 45-day human rights campaign aimed at strengthening public awareness, advocacy and accountability for human rights violations in South Sudan.
The discussions also highlighted the media’s role beyond simply reporting incidents, placing emphasis on responsible documentation, protecting vulnerable sources and ensuring that journalism contributes to justice and respect for human rights.