Central African Republic recommendations to foster an environment conducive to freedom of expression
09-10-2007 (Paris)
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Following the initiative of the Central African Government and of national media associations, the First General Assessment of Central African Republic Media took place in Bangui, capital of Central African Republic, between 22 August and 1 September 2007. The goal of this event was to discuss how to create an environment conducive to freedom of expression.
The opening ceremony was held in the Palace of the National Assembly in Bangui, Central African Republic. At the inauguration, the President of the Republic, François Bozizé, said that: «a good democracy needs an active and efficient press which correctly informs citizens about state affairs, but also about daily life and the opinions and concerns of its citizens. »
More than two hundred delegates, representing media and other sectors of civil society took part in this four day event. The objective of the assessment was to allow media actors to critically analyze their professional practices, with a view of formulating, in a participatory way, recommendations to foster an environment conducive to freedom of expression.
During the plenary sessions of the 27 and 28 August, ten national consultants contributed with presentations which were followed by debates on relevant topics including: relationship between the media and different powers, working conditions of media professionals, collaboration between private and public media professionals, press card distribution mechanisms, public funding to private media, and the reform of the High Council for Communication.
Five international experts also facilitated the exercise, including Professor Serge Théophile Balima from Burkina Faso, whose participation was supported by UNESCO in a spirit of South-South cooperation. The presentations included a critical look at the press in Central Africa Republic and presented the experience of regulatory and self-regulatory bodies in Burkina Faso and Benin.
During the last two days, the participants split into three commissions (public media, private media, regulatory and self-regulatory bodies) formulating recommendations and resolutions which were then discussed and approved on the last day by the plenary.
In his closing speech, the Prime Minister, Elie Doté announced that the government would include Communication among State’s priorities.
This event was organized in partnership with UNDP and with the technical and material support of UNESCO, of the OIF, and of the United Nations Bureau in Central African Republic (BONUCA).
Sources: BONUCA, PNUD, ACAP, SODEMA
More than two hundred delegates, representing media and other sectors of civil society took part in this four day event. The objective of the assessment was to allow media actors to critically analyze their professional practices, with a view of formulating, in a participatory way, recommendations to foster an environment conducive to freedom of expression.
During the plenary sessions of the 27 and 28 August, ten national consultants contributed with presentations which were followed by debates on relevant topics including: relationship between the media and different powers, working conditions of media professionals, collaboration between private and public media professionals, press card distribution mechanisms, public funding to private media, and the reform of the High Council for Communication.
Five international experts also facilitated the exercise, including Professor Serge Théophile Balima from Burkina Faso, whose participation was supported by UNESCO in a spirit of South-South cooperation. The presentations included a critical look at the press in Central Africa Republic and presented the experience of regulatory and self-regulatory bodies in Burkina Faso and Benin.
During the last two days, the participants split into three commissions (public media, private media, regulatory and self-regulatory bodies) formulating recommendations and resolutions which were then discussed and approved on the last day by the plenary.
In his closing speech, the Prime Minister, Elie Doté announced that the government would include Communication among State’s priorities.
This event was organized in partnership with UNDP and with the technical and material support of UNESCO, of the OIF, and of the United Nations Bureau in Central African Republic (BONUCA).
Sources: BONUCA, PNUD, ACAP, SODEMA
Related themes/countries
· Central African Republic
· Freedom of Expression: News Archives 2007
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