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Article 19 Media Training Starts in Gambia
Tuesday, 04 October 2011 02:09
(JollofNews) – About 20 media practitioners drawn from the country's print and electronic media gathered Monday
at Gambia Press Union Conference Hall, located along Garba Jahumpa Road in Bakau Newtown, to attend a week-long training as part of Article 19 Global Campaign for Freedom of Expression. Funded by the European Community (EC), the training is centred on the theme “International Standards for Freedom of Expression for Journalists”, and has the potential to increase best practices in the media.In her remarks, the European Union (EU) Charge d'Affaires Ms Agnes Guillaud indicated that their approach seeks to empower citizens to exercise their rights. As such, she went on, the principles of democracy and respect of human rights constitute points of paramount importance in this programme.
In a similar vein, Fatou Jagne-Senghore noted that training is part of activities geared towards strengthening GPU and ensuring media safety protocols become a reality. Considering the fact that the situation of the media practice in the Gambia is not conducive, she emphasized that media practitioners should respect best standards in carrying out their duty to inform.
While giving background information of the project, Ms Lisell Bull, Programme Coordinator of the Non-State Actors Strengthening Programme, seized the opportunity to remind the gathering that The Gambia is signatory to the Cotonou Agreement signed in June 2000, emphasising the Non-State Actors role in the development process. “The agreement considers poverty reduction as a central objective of the cooperation and development strategies, and makes it essential to ensure widest possible participation of all sectors of society to create both the conditions for greater equity and access by the poor to the benefits of economic growth,” she said.
GPU President Emil Touray urged participants to do their utmost and perform successfully during the training. “If we implement this programme successfully, it will provide the opportunity for the European Community to come to the help of GPU”.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Information, Communication and Infrastructure Alhagie Cham, the Director of the Department of Information Services Isatou Davies-Ann commended the initiators of the training as it could not have come at a better time because a free and independent press is the lifeblood of a strong, functioning society, and a lifeline to progress itself. “Freedom of the press is very essential in maintaining a form of government that can be trusted by the people it serves,” she remarked.
The week-long training led by local and overseas trainers will result to increased confidence and skills to carry out the duty to inform with responsibility. It is expected to unfold a better understanding about the international standards of freedom of expression.
Written by Abdoulie John
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