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Liberia: Int'l Media Training Kicks Off This Week
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The NEWS (Monrovia)
22 April 2008
Posted to the web 22 April 2008
Monrovia
The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Dr. Lawrence K. Bropleh is expected to deliver the formal opening address of the three-day International Media Training Program for senior editors and reporters of Liberia and Sierra Leone which will begin Thursday in Monrovia.
The training will build the capacity of journalists to use the information available from a range of sources to provide objective, balanced and fair reporting, expressing views and providing information within an accurate, factual and legal framework, takes place at the Krystal Oceanview Hotel located at the Diplomatic enclave of Mamba Point.
The training geared towards widening journalists' knowledge, improving their reportage skills and equipping them with requisite techniques on international criminal proceedings in general, the Proceedings of the Charles Taylor Trial in The Hague in particular.
Participants would benefit greatly from Dr Bropleh presentation which the organizer believe would help participants focus on the significance of the forthcoming training and the critical role of the press in Sierra Leone and Liberia's continuing progress towards a future of accountability and respect for human rights, as a strong foundation of prospective economic growth and social development.
According to the organizer, thirty-five print, electronic, radio and community media journalists from Liberia, and 15 from Sierra Leone, are convening in Monrovia to participate in this intensive 3-day training focused on the trial of Charles Taylor. The exercises run from April 24 -26.
In particular, the training will cover international and hybrid tribunals and international criminal law, the role of the Prosecution and Defence in international criminal proceedings and the rights of the accused to a fair trial, the Special Court and the Charles Taylor trial from a legal and journalistic perspective, the impact of the trial on the current political and justice situation in Liberia, and equipping journalists with tools to better manage public expectations surrounding the trial.
The objectives of the training exercise is to provide basic training on international tribunals and international criminal law in general; to foster a better understanding of international proceedings, including the purpose of the Taylor trial, the role of the Prosecution and Defence, and the rights of the accused to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence and to provide detailed training on the Special Court and the conduct of the Charles Taylor trial in The Hague.
Also to discuss and address the principle concerns about, and objections to the trial including the impact on the current political and justice situation in Liberia and future processes, as well as to equip journalists with tools to better manage public expectations surrounding the trial and to create a network so that in future sources of information provided for example by fellowships in The Hague can be effectively shared by the media ensuring accurate up-to-date information.
The training is being conducted by a panel of distinguished lawyers and journalism trainers while the facilitators include a lawyer from the Office of the Prosecutor; a lawyer who has acted as Defence Counsel at the Special Court; an academic expert with experience teaching on international criminal trials and the Special Court, Open Society Justice Initiative, expert from UK Legal Community and Advocates for International Development ("A4ID") and renowned Liberian lawyer and journalist, with impeachable international acclaimed records
The trainers also including Wayne Jordash, senior counsel at the Sierra Leone Special Court, Cynthia O'Donoghue, Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, Jonathan Williams, Professor of International Law and Liberian counsel, and Weade Kobbah, lecturer in journalism at the University of Liberia, and Ana Arana, media trainer, among others distinguished trainers.
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The exercise is organized by the United Kingdom Legal Community Charity, Advocates for International Development (A4ID), in collaboration with a West Africa media right group, International Centre for Media Studies and Development (INCEMSADWA), with funding from the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), the Soros Foundation Network Media Program (NMP) based in London.
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