On 26 February 2017, 4-days training for female journalists started in the premises of the Sudanese Journalist Union (SJU), Khartoum. The training was organized by the SJU with help of the Khartoum office of UNESCO and Sudanese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture under auspice of the Ministry of Information in frameworks of the project funded by the International Programme for Development Communications (IPDC).

 

The IPDC together with UNESCO recognize violence against journalists among the most important current challenges for the Humanity. UNESCO adopted the UNESCO Work Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which complements the organization’s existing work in the field already in line with the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity and emphasis on South-South cooperation. These plans provide a framework for the UN in general and UNESCO in particular to work on this issue with all stakeholders including national authorities, local and international NGOs, media houses, academia.

The opening ceremony was honored by H.E. Mr. Yasir Kidir, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information, H.E. Mr. Pavel Kroupkine, the Head of the Khartoum Office and UNESCO Representative to Sudan, distinguished officers from UN and the Italian and Dutch Embassies, and other distinguished officials.

This is the first training-session of the cycle, which will empower about twenty Sudanese female journalists, and prepare four Sudanese trainers to disseminate the knowledge on journalist safety further. Next training-session, thanks to support of UNAMID, will be in El-Fasher – covering female journalists of Darfur. Then - in Kordofan, and East. For the Eastern states, the Italian Embassy is willing to support the training.

 

Resulting this effort, Sudan will have about hundred trained female journalists and four trainers in safe journalism.