The Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is organizing a two-day workshop for Journalist in Ghana to strengthen the capacity of media actors around human rights in the context of media freedom, preventing hate speech and incitement to violence.
Opening the workshop today, the Head of Research, Statistics, and Information at the Ministry Of Information, Charles Sedem Hottor, who represented the Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, and read a speech on her behalf, commended CHRAJ and OHCHR for organizing the workshop saying it aligns with government’s commitment to promoting human rights and a free, responsible press. he stressed that journalists must have the knowledge and skills to effectively report on human rights issues, uphold ethical standards, and maintain the trust of the public hence the workshop is timely.
The Commissioner of CHRAJ, Dr. Joseph Whittal, in his welcome remarks emphasized the importance of journalists engaging with human rights mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Reviews and special rapporteurs, as well as human rights institutions like CHRAJ, to improve human rights protection. He stated that the workshop aims to boost the capacity of journalists in Ghana, enhance their knowledge, examine the intersection of human rights principles with journalism, address ethical considerations in reporting, and tackle challenges faced by journalists working in environments where human rights and fundamental freedoms are frequently under threat.
Mr. Robert Kotchani, the Regional Representative of the OHCHR, West Africa Regional Office, highlighted Ghana’s progress in human rights. This includes engagement with the Universal Periodic Review, strengthening of national human rights institutions, and efforts to pass bills such as the partial abolition of the death penalty and the anti-witchcraft bill. The training aims to enhance journalists’ capacity to report on human rights issues and SDGs accurately and comprehensively, while also strengthening their digital security measures for safe information management, particularly sensitive information on gender-based violence and electoral processes.
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, said the media’s role in promoting human rights issues and elections is very crucial. He explained that acting as the fourth Estate of the realm, Journalists are the guardians of truth, the watchdogs of democracy, and the voices of the voiceless, and so therefore, must be seen to be discharging that role dispassionately. Failure of which would amount to dereliction of our mandate. He however admonished that freedom of the media does not mean freedom to discharge duties in a manner that poses threats to the country, and reminded the journalists to remain professional and ethical at all times.
Under the partnership, CHRAJ and the OHCHR are enhancing the capacity of Twenty-Five journalists from selected media houses to better report and follow up on key human rights developments in the country such as the recent UPR, and engage with human rights mechanisms to promote human rights as well as to address protection issues for journalists.
The training will consist of various interactive sessions with participants in a hybrid format, combining both online and in-person activities. The sessions will include presentations, discussions, and debates facilitated by CHRAJ, OHCHR, UNESCO, UNFPA, and UNWOMEN. Key topics to be addressed include human rights instruments, prevention and countering of hate speech, the role of media in election violence, gender-based violence against journalists, women, and young people in elections, as well as social media, disinformation, and elections, among others.
Published on: August 16, 2024
