Training of Pedagogues of Malian Security Forces on Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists
©UNESCO
Strengthening the skills of pedagogues of Malian security forces to guarantee the right of citizens to freedom of expression and access to information by improving the safety of journalists is the objective of the training workshop organized by the UNESCO Office in Bamako, in partnership with the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), and the West Africa Regional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). This training workshop will bring together thirty participants, from March 28-30 2017, at the Peacekeeping School in Bamako.
During the three-day training, participants will discuss how to manage relations with the media and journalists and engage in practical exercises for officers and members of the press on how to solve specific cases that could generate incidents. Furthermore, journalists’ knowledge on their rights, personal security procedures, and the missions and competencies of Malian security forces will be reinforced.
This training takes place as follow up to the successful organization of two previous training sessions in Mali at the Peacekeeping School on the same subject, held in June and November 2016, in partnership with EUCAP Sahel-Mali and the OIF. A recommendation of previous participants, the training will lead to the adoption of the training curricula developed by UNESCO for security forces on the safety of journalists and freedom of expression by the Peacekeeping School in Bamako. In this regard, a technical meeting will be held on March 31 between UNESCO representatives, pedagogues from the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection, and the Peacekeeping School and pedagogues. The objective of this technical meeting is the formal adoption of the training module produced by UNESCO on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, and media relations into the training curriculum of the Peacekeeping School.
This training workshop occurs in the framework of the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, led by UNESCO and endorsed by the United Nations Chief Executive Board on April 12 2012. The plan of action was developed with the aim of coordinating the efforts of various actors in this field. Integral to UNESCO’s mandate is the promotion of an environment conducive to freedom of expression, press freedom and the safety of journalists, as well as the facilitation of media pluralism and sustainable and independent media institutions.
Link to the Training Manual “Freedom of Expression and Public Order” : http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002313/231305e.pdf
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