CEMESP PROFILE & BACKGROUND

The Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) sprang up to confront the problems that undermine unfettered media practice and free speech in conflict situations and peace processes. As such, its role has been to strengthen the work of media professionals, peace building and human rights organizations through the development of capacities to understand, anticipate, plan and forecast holistic solutions to conflicts.

In the existing context of fragile peace and democracy, CEMESP had been reinventing to assume a broader stakeholders perspective that would contribute to peace and development consolidation.

CEMESP is registered under Liberian laws through articles of incorporation and obtaining NGO certificate that it is renewed annually.. The Board of five persons meets annually to review and chart new policy direction.

Since 2003 the center has supported the institutional development of the media both traditional and new media. In undertaking trainings the center has produced materials such as: Story Based Investigative Reporting, Using the FOI Law to Demand Political Accountability, Digital and cyber security and social accountability best practice approach for journalists and CSOs. Beneficiaries of these trainings exceed 1000.

Research and publications from CEMESP include Monitoring FOI Law Application in a Post Elections Environment, Universal Periodic Report on Liberia, Assessing the Demand and Supply Trend of the FOI Law, Observatory Report on Decentralization process based on Open Space consultative tool, Monitoring Report on Money Laundry and Terrorist Financing Predicate offenses, Midwifing Triplets: Dialoguing for Enactment of Three Media Laws in Liberia, Assessing Journalists Safety from the Prism of UNESCO Indicators

CEMESP’s salient track record includes leading on the Working Group of the Liberia Media Law Reform Process, serving in the steering committee of  the Open Government Partnership and the Elections Coordinating Committee.

Some of its main funders over the years include USAID, INTERNEWS, OSIWA, UNDP, UNESCO, IREX,  British Embassy, NED, IFEX, International Media support, among others.

Also, the center in 2012 led the initiative in which the government of Liberia through erstwhile president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf signed unto the Table Mountain Declaration that has culminated in the Kamara Abudullai Kamara Press Freedom Act – repealing anti press freedom criminal offences in the constitution.

The center’s strategic plan 2018 through 2023 has identified new program areas in media and gender empowerment, monitoring of social media to track misinformation and disinformation, media litigation supports and enhanced documentation of attacks on freedom of expression.