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Media Reform: Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement

Implementations

Media Reform – 2005

The Joint Media Committee was established in April 2005 for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the peace processes. The committee contained representatives from both parties to the CPA. The committee did not meet regularly, and the UNMIS effort to obtain the support of the committee for a public awareness proved unsuccessful.¹ Nevertheless, the agreement between the Government of Sudan and the UNMIS on 28 December of 2005 gave the UNMIS the “right to establish, install and operate United Nations radio stations under its exclusive control to disseminate to the public in Sudan information relating to its mandate.”² Programs broadcasted under the UNMIS radio stations were said to be free from any kind of censorship.

No further information is available regarding the effectiveness of the Joint Media Committee in promoting an understanding of the peace processes in Sudan. It is however worth mentioning that the freedom of press situation did not improve as suggested by the Human Rights Watch annual reports.³

“The CPA Monitor-Monthly report on the Implementation of the CPA,” UNMIS, March 2006; “Report of the Secretary-General on the Sudan,” United Nations (S/2011/821), December 21, 2005.
“Agreement Between the Government of Sudan and the United Nations Concerning the Status of the United Nations Mission in Sudan,” UNMIS, accessed January 30, 2012, unmis.unmissions.org/Portals/UNMIS/Documents/General/sofa.pdf.
“World Report (2005-2011),” Human Rights Watch, accessed January 30, 2012, http://www.hrw.org/node/79288.