Human Rights Training for Journalists
Human Rights Training for Journalists
Program Background:
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region the Centre in collaboration with the Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa /ROMENA, and the Jordanian Institute for Journalism, organizes the regional human rights training course for media professionals.
Since its establishment, the Centre has organized a series of regional and national activities on human rights standards and principles related to the work of journalists and the media, in cooperation with several regional and national partners such as the United Nations Office of Education, Culture and Science - UNESCO - Office of the Gulf States and Yemen, Al Jazeera Centre for Public Freedoms and Human Rights, the Doha Centre for Media Freedom, in addition to unions of journalists in several Arab countries.
Objectives:
Journalists and media professionals play a fundamental role in the promotion and protection of human rights. Effective human rights training of such professionals builds their knowledge of human rights as relevant to their profession, as well as the necessary skills to integrate human rights concerns in their work. Human rights principles provide essential guidance for their professional performance and the work of media outlets, which can only take place in an enabling environment in which access to information, freedom of expression, and safety are protected.
Accordingly, the goal of the training course is to increase the capacity of journalists and media professionals to integrate human rights principles and concerns in their work.
At the end of the training course, participants will be able to:
- Explain human rights principles and international bodies relevant to the journalism profession;
- Describe the human rights of journalists and relevant limitations
-Identify human rights concerns in situations involving the work of journalists and examine how to address them in line with human rights principles;
- Compare ways for journalists to promote and protect human rights.
Methodology:
The course follows OHCHR’s human rights training methodology, with a needs assessment after nominations and pre-/post-training evaluations, plus ongoing feedback. It is highly participatory with discussions, group work, case studies, role plays/simulations, and practical exercises, and encourages participants to share their experiences throughout the training.
Materials for all sessions will be provided, and expectations are set on day one, checked daily, and reviewed at the end.
Speakers/ Trainers:
The training team will consist of OHCHR staff members with relevant training and substantive experience as well as resource persons from the media profession with the necessary human rights experience will be part of the training team.
Partners:
● Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa /ROMENA,
● Jordanian Institute for Journalism
Audiences:
In the selection of the participants, priority will be given to journalists who have, among their tasks, training and coaching functions with respect to other media professionals in their countries, with a view to ensure sustainability. Gender balance will be actively sought.
Upcoming training
Training for Egyptian Journalists – February 18 – 20, Cairo
The Role of the Media in Promoting the Enjoyment of the Right to Adequate Food, Morocco - 9 to 11 July
Sub regional training: Human Rights Standards and Principles for Journalists and Media Professionals - Manama, 9 to 10 October
