Port Sudan: A workshop to discuss proposals to amend the Press and Publications Act of 2009 was launched in Port Sudan on Monday. The workshop was attended by Vice-President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), Commander Malik Agar, a number of ministers and state officials, and a large gathering of media professionals and specialists.
According to Sudan News Agency, national experts in the fields of journalism and media are participating in the workshop, presenting working papers on legislation related to various aspects of press and media issues. The papers are subject to in-depth discussions by specialists in the field, with the aim of producing recommendations that contribute to updating and developing the Press and Publications Act.
TSC Vice-President, Commander Malik Agar, and the Minister of Culture and Information, Khalid Al-Aiser, addressed the opening session on Monday morning. They emphasized that the current phase requires updating and developing laws and legislation in the field of media to meet the needs of stakeholders, enhance national cohesion, and protect the rights of individuals, groups, and the public.
The workshop will continue for two days and conclude tomorrow, Tuesday, with the recommendations being read out. They will then be submitted to specialized committees for approval, paving the way for their inclusion in the Press and Publications Act through the relevant authorities and applicable legal procedures.
Through the workshop, Sudanese people hope to develop visions that will contribute to the enactment of a new Press and Publications Act, particularly as the country is entering a new era and witnessing major transformations toward achieving democracy and freedoms, which require new legislation to keep pace.
It is worth noting that the country’s first Press Act was issued in 1930, while the last Press and Publications Act was approved and updated in 2009.