Philippines: Journalists Learned About Conflict-Sensitive Journalism

Workshop participants

Veteran journalists of the Zamboanga peninsula and the island province of Basilan, in the southwestern part of Mindanao in the Philippines, learned about conflict-sensitive journalism during the “Seminar-Workshop on Peace Journalism in Conflict and Post-Conflict Areas” which was held on August 8-10, 2011 in Zamboanga City.

The workshop was conducted by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) in partnership with the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON), with support from the UNESCO Office Jakarta and UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines.

More popularly known as “peace Journalism,” conflict-sensitive journalism is described as “good journalism reporting on conflict.”

UNESCO presents first results of IFAP Project “Transparency, Access to Information and Accountability in the Andean Region” in Bolivia

UNESCO presented the first results of IFAP project Transparency, Access to Information and Accountability in the Andean Region to key local counterparts in La Paz and Potosí (Bolivia) on 10 and 12 August.

UN EXPERT PANEL ON ARBITRARY DETENTION TO DISCUSS 43 CASES IN NEXT WEEK’S SESSION

A group of independent United Nations human rights experts will on Monday begin a session to discuss 43 confidential cases of arbitrary detention concerning 22 countries and review information relating to those cases, including communications from States.

Immigration operatives urged to work for a borderless ECOWAS region

Ambassador James Victor Gbeho President

ABUJA, Nigeria, August 24, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency James Victor Gbeho on Monday, 22nd August 2011, called on immigration operatives in Member States to work toward the achievement of a borderless Community through effective implementation of the regional protocol on free movement.

“In seeking to accelerate the attainment of a borderless Community, the ECOWAS Commission is disposed to activate public participation in the protocol implementation with the use of enormous human resources”, the President said at the opening of a train-the-trainers workshop for Nigerian immigration officials on the ECOWAS Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Right of Residence and Establishment.

61st WHO Regional Committee for Africa session scheduled

Minister Badgie Head Gambian Delegation

The Sixty-First Session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Africa will open in Cote d’Ivoire from the 29th August to 2nd September 2011. According to a media dispatch from the WHO Country office, the conference will gather African Health ministers and experts to discuss wide range of issues.

Fatim Badjie, the minister of Health and Social Welfare is expected to head the Gambian delegation to the meeting. Held annually in the month of September, the regional committee is the supreme decision-making body of the WHO in the African region, which takes stock of progress in health development in the continent as well as charting new ways, in the form of resolutions, for health advancement.

Delegates from the 46 countries of WHO in the African region are expected to attend as well as a host of international organisations/institutions, civil society organisations and individuals from within and outside the African continent.

Côte d’Ivoire to host 61st session of WHO Regional Committee for Africa

Brazzaville, 16 August 2011 - The sixty-first session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa is to be held from 29 August to 2 September 2011 in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire.

This year’s meeting of the Regional Committee, WHO’s Governing Body in the African Region, will discuss among others, a report on the work of WHO in the African Region, to be presented by the Regional Director, Dr Luis Sambo.

Government Commonwealth Media Meeting

Minister Tangara

The Government of The Gambia, under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure (MOICI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad (MOFAIC&GA), in close collaboration with the University of The Gambia (UTG), and the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation recently held a regional forum and a  workshop with heads of media institutions.

The occasions, which brought media personnel and government officials, availed them the opportunity to evaluate the role, obligation and responsibilities of the media; government and other stakeholders in spurring and deepening development.

Female Lawyers, Teachers Hold Training On Violence Against Women

Minister Fatou Lamin Faye

Lawyers are mostly busy running after their cases from one courtroom to another, from lower to higher courts.

But the female members of this legal profession in the Gambia have manifested that they are also concerned about the violence perpetrated on the vulnerable women and girls in society. 

Their grouping called The Gambia Female Lawyers Association, shorten FLAG, in collaboration with the Gambia Teachers Union (GTU), early August, 2011 held a day’s Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop at the Paradise Suites Hotel.

Gambia: Suggestion of Ideas With Acute Unemployment Situation

Minister Gomez

The problem of youth unemployment is a burning national issue in today’s Gambia, as has been acknowledged by all who are familiar with the issue.

The problem is not peculiar to this country; in fact, it is a problem in virtually all nations of the world, developed and developing.

Actually, the problem of youth unemployment, and finding possible solutions, is an issue of concern to families generally, whether in the urban or rural areas of the country.

Gambia Ranked 2nd “Highest Tax” Nation In The World

The Gambia has been  “ranked” as the world’s 2nd “highest tax” nation, as well as the 8th bottom “most difficult” country to do business, a presentation by  the Secretary General of the Association of Clearing and Forwarding  Agencies (ACFA), Mr. Joof, disclosed.

He was making a presentation on the challenges of  trade facilitation in the Gambia, at a recent occasion held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

On Jammeh’s International Award

VP Njie- Saidy

The Management School, London has awarded President Sheikh Professor Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh for the “promotion of peace and stability, good governance and management”.

The Gambian leader was awarded by the Management School, at the joint ceremony of the 5th International Management, 5th International Human Resource, and the 4th International Public Relations congresses recently convened at the Sheraton Hotel and spa, in Brufut.  

Mr. Mike Okereke, President of British Education Examination Council (BEEC) International and Director, the Management  School, London delievred the award, received on behalf of President Jammeh, by Dr.  Ajaratou Isatou Njie-Saidy, expressed profound gratitude on behalf of Gambian leader.

Gambia In Dire Need Of “Black Tourists”

Vice President Dr. Ajaratou Isatou Njie- Saidy

Vice  President Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy has used the opportunity of the official opening of the recently concluded 5th International Management, 5th International Human Resource, and the 4th International Public Relations congresses, to urge  the delegates to come back to The Gambia as ‘black tourists’.

Gambia Gov't, Media Relations Should Improve

Minister Tangara

The recent Commonwealth Media and Development Forum hosted in the Gambia, and the presence of some government Ministers is a welcome development, and move in the right direction. 

Listening to the various speakers, including Gambia Government Officials, one would note that the role of the media in nation building is undisputed and indispensable.

As the country’s Foreign Minister Dr. Mamadou Tangara aptly put it, ‘a deep democracy functions in no small part through an informed and engaged citizenry’.

Commonwealth Official Talks On Media, Good Governance And Transparency

“The single most important obstacle to a healthy media and government relationship in Africa and elsewhere is the failure to recognize the crucial role played by the media in the creation of conditions that promote transparency and good governance,” so staed  Ambassador  Ayo Oke, Head of  Africa  Section,  Political Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat in   London.

He was speaking at the recently concluded Commonwealth  Forum in Banjul  under theme “ Media  and  Economic Development.” 

‘Media freedom Is An Essential Ingredient of Democracy’

At the commonwealth forum held in Banjul from 1 and 2 August, 2011, Article 19’s Regional Representative, Madam Fatou Jagnge Senghore told her audience comprising government and Commonwealth officials, media practitioners and the civil society, that media freedom is an essential ingredient of democracy in today’s society.

She was presenting a paper on West Africa Regulatory Framework: Drawing Lessons. 

According to her, profound and real changes have taken place in many African countries over the past two decades, noting that this year, Africa celebrates Windhoek +20.

‘Nothing Looks Like Daylight in Election Reporting’

Election reporting in most West African nations is akin to walking along a tree-covered-street at night in which nothing looks like daylight, since everything seems to rely on the dictates of the electioneering authorities”. 

These were the thoughts of Chief Foanyi Nkemayang, a well known Cameroonian Veteran journalist and Chief Executive Officer of the Star Media in Cameroon.

He was presenting a paper titled “Media Ethics in Election Reporting in West Africa” at the just-concluded Commonwealth forum at the Sheraton Hotel and Spa in Brufut.

The Cameroonian veteran journalist said that most journalists involved in election reporting have had to be harassed or beaten up because of the editorial policy of their media houses, or they hav decided to be partisan in their reporting.

Female-Headed Households ‘Highest’ In Banjul, Jarra

The 2011 Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) is based on national representative sample survey to update the knowledge base on food security and vulnerability at the household level in The Gambia.

It covers both the urban and rural areas, and also takes into account the recent natural economic shocks experienced by the population.

The analysis meantime discovered that the capital Banjul and Jarra West in the Lower River Region have the highest number of female householders.

Free and Fair Election Is Not Only Casting Vote, But……

Free and equal rights of every person to participate in a system of government, often practised by a system of election representative of the people, by the majority of the people in its simplest term can be refers to democracy.

Equally, the media on the other hand, is essential to the conduct of democratic election processes.

 As every Tom, Dick and Harry will say, a free and fair election is not only about casting vote in proper conditions, but also about having adequate information about parties, policies, candidates and the election process itself so that voters can make an informed choice.

Africa: Leaders Whose ‘Buttocks’ Are On Seat Don’t Want To Quit

Chief Nkemayang Paul, a well known Cameroonian veteran journalist and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Star Media in Cameroon has told a Commonwealth forum in Banjul that a good number of African leaders don’t want to quit from the throne simply, because they are corrupt and transformed leadership into an everlasting heritage.

 He blamed them for not been ready to hand over power to others through the ballot box saying that “nobody whose ‘buttocks’ are on the seat of power ever wishes to quit the throne, ”  question he asked.

Rights Enables Individuals To Think And Access Information

Human rights has its roots in the struggles for freedom, fairness, justice and equality everywhere in the world, as a result human rights gives people to think and access to information. In addition, it gives one the freedom to act and to choose what to do, as well as freedom to join in any political life of the community and society as a whole.

  A good example can be the right to be presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. The right of people to vote for members of their government, freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and the right to peaceful assembly can all be considered as good examples of generations of rights..

 Social and Economic rights are sometines refered to as security-oriented od second generation rights because they provide social and economy security.

Freedom of Information establishes a “right-to-know”

Mamadou Edrisa Njie Ag. Editorial Assistant

Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation comprises laws that guarantee access to information held by the state. It establishes a “right-to-know”

legal process by which requests may be made for government-held information to be given freely or at minimal cost, barring standard exceptions.
A law of freedom of information, if enacted, the public and private bodies will be emboldened to give-out information to the media without fear of reprisal.