By Sulaiman Jalloh
The Human Right Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has, on Thursday, June 20, 2024, trained twenty (20) journalists in Freetown on ‘Human Rights-Based Approach to News Reporting’ at the Peace Museum Hall, New England Ville in Freetown.
During the training session, journalists were exposed to topics ranging from general Overview of Human Rights Education, Human Rights and Court Reporting, Reporting Sexual Gender Base Violence (SGBV), Human Rights and Elections Reporting, Reporting Political Incidents from the Human Rights Lens to Social Media Reporting and the role of journalists.
In her opening statement, the Deputy Director of Education Communication and Training, Millicent Kargbo, expressed thanks and appreciation to all participants, noting that her department is responsible for drafting and organizing trainings for the institution, and that over the years, the Commission has been cordially working with media practitioners in the country as they play a crucial role in strengthening democracy.
Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs. Patricia Narsu Ndanema said the Commission acknowledged the media as a valuable partner to their work and therefore said the training was geared towards equipping journalists with knowledge in human rights reporting to avoid chaos in society. She furthered that the Commission regularly monitors the media and has, in some cases, acted on issues raised in the media relating to human rights violations. She however noted that whereas the media provide information on key issues in society, but they sometimes fail to provide further updates to the public on progress in resolving such issues. The human rights expert further cited instances where the media had shared inaccurate reports that may have led to chaos. She therefore called on journalists to be factual in their reporting and avoid misinformation.
According to the Deputy Human Rights Commission, Victor Idrissa Lansana Esq., human rights are universal and cannot be decided, adding that the importance of court reporting cannot be over emphasized. He said the media plays a crucial role in the process of advocating human rights in the country.
Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Manika Kamara, who spoke on behalf of the Association’s president, expressed thanks and appreciation to Commission for inviting SLAJ, as according to him, the training will help to build and strengthen the capacity of journalists, more so in specialized areas like human rights reporting. “Today’s workshop is designed to deepen your understanding of how human rights principles can and should be integrated into your reporting. By focusing on dignity, equality, and respect, we can ensure that our stories not only inform but also empower our audiences. We also highlight human rights situations and experiences of marginalized people and communities,” the secretary general stated. The training, he went on, will help reinforce the importance of a human rights perspective in journalism, adding with the training journalists are better equipped to tell stories that reflect the diverse voices and experiences within their communities while also advocating for justice and accountability, especially for the voiceless, poor, and powerless.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Monday, June 24th , 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
