By Otto Abut
Hundreds of media practitioners and senior government officials came together to mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information, observed annually on September 26. The national event, organized by the Right of Access to Information Commission with support from UNESCO, was held under the theme: “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector.”
The event highlighted the critical importance of free access to information as a fundamental right for all citizens and featured speeches by high-ranking government officials, stakeholders, media professionals, and members of the public.
Deputy Minister of Information, Hon. Dr. Jacob Korok, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to raising public awareness of the right to access information. He emphasized that transparency and access to information are key to fostering accountability, good governance, and citizen participation in national development.
“Ensuring that our citizens are well-informed is a priority,” Dr. Korok stated. “The government is committed to creating an environment where access to information is protected, and we will continue engaging in initiatives to promote this right.”
The event underscored ongoing efforts to improve access to information in South Sudan, calling for stronger collaboration between the government, media, and civil society to ensure that information is more readily available to the public.
The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2015 through the adoption of Resolution 38 C/57 and has since been celebrated annually on September 26. Dignitaries at the event included Dr. Jacob Korok Maiju, Deputy Minister of ICT; Hon. Oliver Mori, Spokesperson of Parliament; Moyiga Nduru, Commissioner for Access to Information; Napoleon Adok, Director General of the National Communication Authority; and Julius Banda, UNESCO Country Representative.