The media as a tool for peacebuilding in Cameroon. CHRDA drills more than fifty journalists in Buea
2 min read
The promotion of peace especially in conflicts situation remain crucial. The ongoing armed conflict in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon has witnessed a rise in hate speech and fake news. Since 2016 when the Anglophone armed conflict started, thousands have been killed, hundreds of thousands have also been internally and externally displaced while there have been continuous human rights violations in the Regions.
The ongoing war is between the Cameroon government soldiers and Ambazonia (Southern Cameroons) separatist fighters who are fighting the independence of the former British administered colony.
To address this issue of the rise in hate language and dissemination of fake news, it was on 24 November 2020, that the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) and its partner, the French Embassy Cameroon organized a one-day workshop to trained journalists under the umbrella theme“The media as a tool for peacebuilding in Cameroon”.
Speaking at the beginning of the event, Barrister Agbor Nkongho traced the need for journalists to do thorough investigations before disseminating any information for public consumption.
Presenters/trainers including Mr. Tarhyang Tabe, Dr. Munjah Vitalis, Barrister Ashuntantang, elaborated on the need for journalists to avoid fake news and the promotion of hate speech through the media and handle sensitive information with care. In attendance of more than fifty participants, journalists promised to put the knowledge they have gain into practice.
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
