UNESCO REMAINS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING ISSUES OF HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE, IMPUNITY AND CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS 24-11-23
By Sadiq Aminu The Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, liaison director of UNESCO, Dr. Rita Bissounauth stated this while addressing African Journalists in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the African Union media monitors gathering organised by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television –Africa, IAWRT.
Dr. Bissounauth maintained that journalism continues to be a dangerous profession as journalists were often imprisoned, abused or even murdered in the course of duty.
She said given the important role of journalists in a democracy, UNESCO would continue to focus on establishing a harmonized monitoring and reporting mechanism for the safety of journalists in Africa, with the use of Artificial Intelligence and other modern tools.
In a paper presentation, a Nigerian journalist, a Deputy Director News with Radio Nigeria, Dr. Abimbola Oyetunde called for collective efforts from governments, tech companies, the civil society, and the international community to create a safer environment for journalists.
Dr. Oyetunde listed some key issues to include cyber threats, online harassment, the place of legal protection, international collaboration, digital literacy, and the need for accountability.
One of the beneficiaries of the training , Hlengiwe Dube, a South African Radio Journalist, appreciated UNESCO for the programme and described the development of a mapping tool for the documentation of violations against journalists as an incredible initiative.
The capacity building, had in attendance representatives, experts and journalists from all regions of Africa and they were trained on reporting crimes
against journalists with the use of modern technologies.
It was funded by the UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communication, IPDC.