The National Human Rights Commission NHRC today Tuesday 31st May,2022 in Abuja, began intensive capacity building training on Human Rights reporting for Journalists and Staff members of the Corporate Affairs and External Linkage department of the Commission
While declaring Open the training, tagged “Defending The Rights of Journalists and Media Practitioners Through National Safety Mechanism” ,the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission,Barr Tony Ojukwu SAN said the training is designed to give more insight into the situation and challenges of journalism practice in Nigeria.
He said”The training will no doubt present another opportunity for the media practitioners and experts in the field of Mass Communication to rub minds on the hazards of journalism profession and how to navigate through them, and still come out stronger as the mirror of the society.
“It cannot be gainsaid that safety of journalists has been a growing concern in the country and elsewhere in the world, given that some journalists operate under difficult conditions, where freedom of expression and the press is relegated to the background. In such climes, the issue of censorship, harassment, unlawful arrest and detention and assassination are not uncommon.
“Despite relevant constitutional guarantees and iegislations, there are situations in the country where freedom of expression and the press, as well as journalists’ safety are violated and trampled upon for no just cause. The culprits in such circumstances could be state or non-state actors, or Individuals who are not comfoftable with the outcomes of cenain investigative journalism, usually carried out by the press in one with their mandate of holding the government, and by extension; public officers accountable to the people.
On our part as a Commission saddled with the responsibility of protecting the rights of citizens, including journalists, we will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that human rights are adequately protected at all times.
“In view of the foregoinq, capacity building like the on we are witnessing today is very crucial because journalists who are the agents of change and promoters of good governance should be exposed to capacity buildinq training to enable them to understand safety mechanism which they need to survive in any situation pragmatically discharge their duties effectively.
“According to the UN Plan 01 Action on the Safety of Issue of Impunity, “in a climate where journalists are safe, citizens find it easier to access quality information and many objective become possible as a result: democratic governance and poverty reduction; conservation cf the environment; gender equality and the empowerment of women; justice and culture of human rights, to name a few”,
Unfortunately, cases abound where some Nigerian journalists have 1031 their lives in the line of duty, owing to alleged excesses of some unscrupulous state actors and in some other cases, by non-state actors, winc may be pursuing some selfish interest”.
Ojukwu further stated that the NHRC had always enjoyed a robust partnership with Media Houses and this has assisted the Commission in keeping the public abreast with it’s programmes and activities.
“This training is designed as a give back, as a corporate social responsibility on the part of the Commission to the journalists.This is because we value the partnership between us”NHRC Boss added.
The were goodwill message from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung KAS, International Center for Investigative Journalism, Nigerian Press Council,CA&EL, Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)and other stakeholders.
The Resource Persons for the training included; Dr.Umar Jibrilu Gwandu,Ms Joy Baiye ,Mr.Ajibola Hamzat Dr.Obiora Chukumba,Mr.Malachy Uzendu,Ms Ramatu Umar Bako. The training session is expected to end on Wednesday 1st May,2022
