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CEMESP extends warm sentiments to Journalists and media workers in observance of World Press Freedom Day

The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding  (CEMESP) extends warm sentiments to Journalists and media workers in observance of World Press Freedom Day.

Freedom of the press—the right to report news or circulate opinion without censorship from the government or anyone else we all know is considered one of the great bulwarks of liberty, by a significant number of people around the world.

Liberians enjoy freedom of the press as one of the rights guaranteed by the constitution, and it is this right that World Press Freedom Day seeks to protect and advance.

Since the 1991 proclamation by UNESCO, World Press Freedom Day continues to amplify awareness over how key it is to dedicate our efforts to safeguard press freedom, and at the same time point out the vital role that journalists and media workers do play in fostering the culture of democracy, accountability, and protecting the rights that are too often denied.

In the discharge of these roles and responsibilities, many outstanding journalists have sadly died, some are either behind bars, held hostage or treated in unacceptable manners to deter others from holding the power that be accountable.

While Freedom of expression has considerably advanced in recent years, threats, harassment and censorship of the media remains pervasive.

As reported by the US State Department, Liberian “government officials have occasionally harassed newspaper radio station owners, and individual journalists, because of their political opinions and reporting”. Sadly, last year unknown men caused extensive damage to a radio station in Lofa during an alleged April 23 arson attack.  On June 29, 2022, two LNP officers reportedly threatened to shoot Emmanuel Kollie, a reporter with the state-owned broadcasting system, and Amos Korzawu, a reporter for Fortune TV, while covering a political rally. Local and international rights groups have also recorded censorship or “Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media”, forcing some journalists into unacceptable self-censorship to avoid harassment.

As different global speech defenders, gather in various parts of the world to commemorate the 3oth anniversary celebration of World Press Freedom Day under the theme: “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights”, CEMESP is urging the Government of Liberia and all of its state and security institutions to unequivocally commit to protect freedom of the press at all levels.

The government of Liberia must continue to widen the civil space for free and unhindered expressions to fulfill its commitments under local and international conventions.

The Center for Media studies and Peacebuilding is committed to advancing all the enabling elements of freedom of expression to enjoy and protect all other human rights.

In January this year, CEMESP with support from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) launched a Comprehensive National Framework for the safety of journalists in Liberia.

The Comprehensive National Framework will consolidate coordination among Liberian state securities and media actors to ensure the safety of journalists especially during the October 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Finally, CEMESP wishes to express the significance of responsible, ethical journalism- a collective responsibility to abide by a code of ethics to avoid conflicts of interest that may compromise integrity or impartiality.

The importance of responsible journalism has never been more critical than now. Professional journalists have an even greater responsibility in today’s Liberia to champion the truth, disprove fake news, and fact-check trending narratives to ensure the public has access to reliable information online. When do we start identifying and applying journalism ethics? It is now more than ever!

CEMESP Convenes CSO-MedIA Roundtable On Data Protection In Liberia

Monrovia 8th March 2022: The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding with support from Small Media foundation based in the United Kingdom, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, convened a one-day engaging roundtable at I-CAMPUS, Snapper Hill in Monrovia.
“Liberia is working on a data protection law and from our own standpoint as civil society, we are keen about creating the space for civic input into the draft instrument and this is what this forum is geared towards,” remarked Malcolm Joseph, Executive Director of CEMESP in a welcome address. He added that the project entails meetings with other stakeholders including the media and a series of talk shows.
CEMESP Program Assistant Ruth Gbatoe provided a detailed overview of the project saying it is stemming from the Universal Periodic Review recommendations that noted among other things that Liberia is lagging behind in the enactment of the data protection legislation.
She said this represents a serious concern for them at CEMESP, indicating that it has emerged that the draft Data protection instrument lacks a data protection clause. She impressed the stakeholders that the essence of the roundtable was for them to review what is available from the lead entity the Post and Telecommunications.
Miss Gbatoe indicated that the process underway is intended to build synergy with other critical sectors including state actors, like the Liberia National Police. She recalled that the UPR review process was supported by the state and must be sustained to address specific issues of weak data processing and storage mechanism.
She disclosed that in the coming weeks CEMESP will engage the lawmakers to secure their buy-in and convey the concerns emanating from the stakeholder’s consultations for an effective data protection law in Liberia.
Program Associate of CEMESP Wremongar Joe also dilated on the importance of safety issues tied to cyberspace. He referred to the 2018 Ministry of Post and Telecommunication meeting that provided a baseline on the policy direction for Cybersecurity in Liberia.
He stated that a continental scan indicates that few countries have enacted cybercrime laws but data protection still remains a challenge for countries such as Chad, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Senegal, among others. He stressed the issue of cyber-surveillance and third-party encroachment of personal data which calls for safeguard from apps such as Google, TikTok.
He argued that whilst there is a trend towards the enactment of news, they are not sufficient to protect personal data and Liberia must learn from these scenarios in privacy protection and confidentiality. He was specific on the replication of personal data each time citizens apply for national identity cards and passports.
It emerged from a conversation that globally 66% of countries have data protection and in OGP countries Liberia and Sierra Leone are yet to have the law.
Prefacing his powerpoint presentation of excerpts of the draft supplementary data protection law, Nalon Kaine, Director of the Cybersecurity at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication expressed delight over CEMESP’s initiative to stimulate conversation around the draft instrument now at the level of the legislature.
He said they have been trying to engage stakeholders on the draft but it has been difficult to get their corporation. He disclosed that the data protection instrument will be an addendum to the Telecommunications 2007 Act for there cannot be two legal instruments on the same thin to create an aberration.
Stakeholders were drilled through the draft instrument and discussions revolved around issues of definitions of key terms and discussions of sensitive provisions. Among other things, the discussions revolved around: data protection agency, recipient of personal data, consent of data subject, sensitive data, health data, data processor, media print, and audiovisual application of the law.
The meeting reached a phase when a suggestion was made by Lawrence Yealue of Accountability Lab to discuss the provisions rather than just going through the definitions. He also recommended that the draft law be shared among stakeholders to read thoroughly and make meaningful input therein.
Another stakeholder moved that the conversation be restricted to the scope of the document which was adopted.
The roundtable also discussed issues of exception to the law about data that must or must not be collected, processed, or stored.
By and large, the roundtable was engaging and useful suggestions were flagged and recorded about issues of sustainability of the data protection agency, fraudulent data protection, the principle of legality and fairness, the principle of accuracy, the principle of choice data processor, the principle of transparency, the gender dimension of the provisions, criminal prosecution implication of certain provisions to be made specific lest it creates a duality of laws to create ambiguity.

CEMESP has concluded a three day dialogue with community radio editors on ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Charter on Democracy Election and Governance.

June 27, 2022-The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding, (CEMESP) has concluded a three day dialogue with community radio editors on ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Charter on Democracy Election and Governance.

The training which targeted twenty editors was focused on mobilizing and engaging media leaders to scan domesticated AU and ECOWAS elections legal frameworks in identifying gaps and come out with stories to inspire reforms and actions that ensure free, fair and credible 2023 general and presidential elections in peace and stability in Liberia.

CEMESP undertook the roundtable discussions in Ganta, Nimba County with support from the Canada based International Freedom of Expression Exchange, IFEX.

At the roundtable dialogue, the participants and facilitators reviewed and discuss the articles, treaties and charters of the African Union as well as ECOWAS’ election monitoring efforts and assistance to member states of the regional economic block.

At the close of session of the three day event the participants stated that it had been an eye opener to many issues contained in articles of the two continental and sub regional instruments which if adhered to and mainstreamed would improve the good governance balance sheet of Liberia.

Providing an over of the project CEMESP Head of Programs Albert Baron Ansu said the project is in line with the civic space objective of IFEX to create media dialogue around international and regional charters.

He challenged journalists to promote the specific articles that were flagged for dialogue ranging from democracy political, economic and social rights, rule of law, security forces in elections, elections observers role, among other related articles.

The participants showed high enthusiasm in the topics, drawing on local experience to put the issues in context for the dialogue which many of them considered as a stock taking exercise, measuring the level of commitment of government institutions to adapt these charters and protocols that have human rights linkages.

The Ganta discussions around the African Union and ECOWAS Charters, protocols and articles emerged from the fact that there are huge gaps in the application of these articles in tackling corruption, providing access to justice, protecting media rights, improving on service delivery, public and private sector development, the transition from militarization to securitization-where there are clearly defined roles of civilians in and other para-security outfits creating confusion in the dispensation of justice.

With the insights and understanding acquired, the county based journalists reassured that they are going to reflect the tools acquired in deepening good governance, democracy and elections in the content to stimulate citizen’s participation in further discussions that will guide their decision in the pending 2023 elections.

CEMESP meanwhile encouraged the community radio journalists to extend the advocacy and monitoring of the compliance and noncompliance with the protocol not just on radio stations and in newspapers but also at the level of social media.

CEMESP says, IFEX has reassured that under this project there could be further support in allaying threats arising from digital safety issues.

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CEMESP, IWL Conducts First Media Training on Women Political Participation

In a concerted effort, the Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding, (CEMESP) and partner on the project, Integrity Watch Liberia, (IWL), over the
the weekend concluded a three-day gender-sensitive political coverage and reporting training in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The Training workshop is part of the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP}) , in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia/ SIDA, the Embassy of Ireland/Irish aid, the National Elections Commission of Liberia, UNDP, and UN Women.
This first phase of four regional training workshops held from September 28-30, 2022, targeted twenty five community radio journalists and social media networks from Bong, Lofa, Nimba and Margibi counties.
They have benefited from a specially designed manual that covered a range of topics intended to deepen the understanding of training recipients on critical gender concepts and contextual appreciation of women’s political participation challenges and barriers in the country.
The trainers Carolyn Myres Zoduah and Tennen Dalieh Tahoungue with support from CEMESP’s Senior Program Officer Albert Ansu, have effectively transmitted the training content to enhance the understanding of the participants in responding to the seism in media, issues of gender inequality, stereotyping, the ways in which media can hurt women in politics and elections and skills and tools for effectively covering and reporting on women during elections.
Madam Ruth Gbatoe CEMESP Project Officer at the start of the training held at the Women Center in Gbarnga Bong county, provided an over of the project in a welcome remark stressing the point about the need for a positive portrayal of women in politics in Liberia especially as the country is looking to critical elections next year. She said the project activities entail the creation of a platform for training journalists on gender-sensitive political coverage and reporting, gender profiling, conducting focus group discussions and training, development of spot messages and support to other media development groups with shared objectives in de – emphasizing slanderous comments against women aspiring for elective offices in Liberia.
Speaking on behalf of the Mayor of Gbarnga city, Pastor John Fogba lauded the initiative of CEMESP and IWL describe it as useful for the development of Liberia. He said the Mayor is very keen and supportive of such effort to politically empower women. He reminded the participants about their role as voice of the voiceless and expressed hope that at the end of the training the journalists will use the knowledge acquired to promote women political participation in Liberia.
Participants male and female journalists exhibited high sense of passion for the topic and were in position to bring out the county specific experience on the challenges that fraught covering and reporting women in politics. They all generally stated in post test evaluations that the training has enriched their knowledge on various issues of gender political empowerment.
At the end of the workshop on Friday September 30, 2022, the journalists adopted a communique committing to promote women candidates in the 2023 Elections under the banner of the proposed network of Journalists to promote Women’s political participation in Liberia.