By Matik Kueth
The Director of the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), Ayaa Irene, has called for the strict implementation of gender policies, the establishment of investigative committees, and punitive enforcement measures to protect women in the country’s media industry.
In an exclusive interview on King Media on Friday, Irene emphasized that despite the presence of sexual harassment policies in some media houses, female journalists are still suffering abuse, often at the hands of their managers, with little to no action taken when they report it.
“Despite the existence of sexual harassment policies in some South Sudanese media houses, female journalists still face harassment, often by their managers, and fear reporting due to inaction or retaliation,” Irene said.
Drawing on her experience as the former Chair of the Female Journalists Network (FJN), Irene painted a bleak picture of silence and fear in newsrooms across South Sudan.
Many female journalists, she said, do not report harassment due to fear of backlash, and those who do often find that nothing changes.
“They should find where they feel comfortable to report the cases; if it is to the female journalist network, let them continue reporting the cases to the female journalist network,” she stated.
“Very few female journalists dare to report. Many other female journalists die in silence without reporting; some even decide to leave the work,” she added.
Irene urged media outlets not only to implement policies but also to take concrete steps such as forming investigative committees, punishing offenders, and establishing secure, anonymous reporting channels. She warned that policies without enforcement are simply symbolic.
According to a recent gathering by the Female Journalists Network (FJN), 30 female reporters from across South Sudan have described how sexual harassment in the workplace and the field remains a reality, often at the hands of editors, managers, or officials they interact with daily.
In a 2019 incident, two female journalists were physically assaulted by an army officer during an assignment at the SSPDF Headquarters, triggering public condemnation and a rare apology from military authorities.
Why it matters
The AMDISS director further noted that media institutions must develop and disseminate gender or sexual harassment policies, form independent investigative committees when allegations surface, enforce disciplinary action to hold perpetrators accountable, including suspension or termination, and build safe, confidential reporting channels where victims know their complaints will be respected and acted upon.
Although some South Sudanese media houses have the sexual harassment policies, the real test lies in serious enforcement and protection for female journalists.