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The three-day National Conference on Combating Hate Speech,
currently underway in Juba, has called on citizens to reject hate speech,
misinformation, and divisive narratives that threaten peace and social
cohesion.
Speakers emphasized the importance of responsible communication in civic engagement.
Sapana Abuyi, Director General for Information and Media
Compliance at the Media Authority, called on citizens to change how they
communicate, especially on social media.
“We have to put behind us our differences, our hateful
feelings, and the way we express our views, which often creates more harm than
peace,” Abuyi said during the National Conference on Combating Hate Speech and
Strengthening Social Cohesion on Tuesday.
“As we approach the 2026 elections, this is the time to
strengthen civic education so people can participate peacefully.”
Ateny Wek Ateny, Minister of Information, Communication
Technology and Postal Services said public responsibility is central to
national unity.
“Freedom of expression is a constitutional right that must
be protected; however, it must be exercised responsibly in a manner that
promotes coexistence and respect,” Ateny stated.
“Hate speech threatens social harmony and peacebuilding.”
Elijah Alier Kuai, Managing Director of the Media Authority,
warned that harmful messages shared by individuals can have national
consequences.
“Undermining peace with misleading or abusive information is
not merely an offence; it threatens South Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity,” Alier noted.
Lothar Jaschke, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Juba,
cautioned against rumors and manipulation.
“It is so easy to defame and manipulate, and so hard to
verify information,” Jaschke asserted.
“Fake news and false accusations only lead to hatred and
division.”
Mary Ajith, Project Manager at Journalists for Human Rights
(JHR), echoed that informed citizens are key to stopping misinformation.
“The essence of the project is to cultivate an environment
where accurate information thrives, reducing misinformation and disinformation
that fuel conflict,” she expressed.
The three-day conference brought together State Ministers of Information, representatives of the three Administrative Areas, civil society
groups and media managers to engage the public in responsible communication and
peaceful coexistence.
Ajith explained that the project directly targeted the
public across the country.
“We trained about 1,000 community members and civil society
actors on media literacy and engaged 700 government and security officials to
encourage coordinated action,” she added.
The conference was organized by the Media Authority in collaboration with Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), with a focus on encouraging citizens to think critically, communicate responsibly and contribute to peace and unity in South Sudan.