By M.V.A in Bafoussam
The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Systems in Cameroon has urged journalists to ensure peaceful elections in Cameroon.
The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Systems in Cameroon has urged journalists to ensure peaceful elections in Cameroon.
Jean-Jacque Massima-Lanji was speaking in Bafoussam Tuesday at the
opening of a three-day capacity building workshop on “media coverage of
elections and the promotion of peaceful elections in Cameroon.”
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| Participants in session |
While noting that the workshop is a response
from the United Nations to the many calls expressed by journalists themselves
as a show of determination to not only acquire new knowledge and experience in
the field but also their determination to contribute to the success of the
upcoming elections, Jean-Jacque Massima Landji noted that “elections are indeed
crucial moments in the democratic life of a nation. Their transparency is
fundamental in the context of Sustainable Development Gals (SDGs) in which one
of the Goals, Goal 16 is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive
societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for
all and building effective accountable institutions at all levels.” From this
perspective he added “the United Nations system encourages the competent
authorities to continue with their efforts in creating an enabling environment
so that journalists can freely exercise their duties.”
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| Jean-Jacque Massima Landji Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Systems in Cameroon |
The resident Coordinator then used his
address to “invite media professionals to fully assume their social
responsibilities, which means showing impartiality in the manner in which they
treat and disseminate information in order to allow to every citizen to have
access to reliable information so that the electors/voters could freely make
informed choices at the appropriate time.”
He urged the over 30 journalists from the
Northwest, Southwest and West Regions, “to make strong commitments along lines
of a historic or significant contribution to peaceful, credible and inclusive
elections.”
The three
day workshop from the 10-12 is featuring presentations by Communication and
Human Rights experts like Haman Mana publisher of the French daily Le Jour,
Fonyuy Kiven Communication and Advocacy Assistance UNCDH-CA, Same Teclaire
Communication Officer UN Women, Baba Wame Lecturer ESSTIC and others on a
variety of issues amongst them; ethics and deontology of journalism, regulation
and self-regulations, balanced treatment of information during electoral
period, the principles of nonsexist/gender sensitive communication in the
electoral process; social media which will reinforce the role of the media in the prevention of
crisis, crisis management and violence during electoral periods as well as Human Rights violations and abuse during
elections as well gender, democracy peace and security.
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Haman
Mana Publisher Le Jour presenting a paper
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The Bafoussam workshop comes after Ngaoundere
and Douala which also permitted selected journalists from other seven regions
of the country to receive a similar training. According to a joint information
note by the United Nations, the participants at the previous workshops
acknowledged the risks and threats to social peace that can be provoked by news
articles and programs which do not obey the principles and tenants of balanced
and impartial treatment of information thereby engaging to promote peace
journalism and to work with complete independence and responsibility, in favour
of sustainable development.”
At the close of the workshop Thursday July 12, the participants adopted two key documents; The Code of good conduct for journalists and media during electoral period and The Bafoussam Declaration. In these documents, they engaged to promote peace journalism and work with complete independence and responsibility, in favour of sustainable development.
The workshops are jointly organized by the
United Nation Regional Office for Africa (UNOCA), the United Nation DevelopmentProgramme UNDP, the United Nation Educatin Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNESCO, the United Nation Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central
Africa UNCDH-CA, the United Nation Information Centre UNIC, and the United
Nation Resident Coordinator’s Office Cameroon with support from Elections
Cameroon ELECAM, the National Communication Council NCC, Ministries of External
Relations, Communications and Women’s Empowerment
and the family.