Mali: Training of Security Forces on Press Freedom, Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists

Bamako, 7 June 2016 – The UNESCO Bamako Office, in partnership with EUCAP Sahel Mali and the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection, has organized, from 13 to 18 June 2016, at the Peacekeeping School in Bamako, a series of capacity building workshops of security forces on press freedom, freedom of expression and the safety of journalists. These workshops, which will gather around fifty participants from all regions in Mali, and aims to strengthen the skills of security forces to ensure the rights of citizens, freedom of expression, and access to information, and therefore improving the safety of journalists.

Two training sessions will be organized with the theme: “journalists and security forces.” The first session, taking place from 13 to 15 June, aims to sensitize senior security officials on freedom of expression, press freedom and the role of journalists in a democracy. The training will also strengthen the capacity of agents of the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection in communications techniques and press relations.

The second session will take place on the 16, 17 and 18 of June, and aims to strengthen the capacity of trainers and pedagogues of the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection on press freedom, freedom of expression and the safety of journalists, to ensure the scale-up of this training and related curricula.

As a result of these capacity building initiatives, participants will develop and adapt a training module on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, and press relations intended for use in training schools of Malian security forces.

This workshop occurs within the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, coordinated by UNESCO and approved by the UN Chief Executives Board, on 12 April 2012 and the United Nations General Assembly by UN Resolution A/RES/68/168 on 18 December 2013, with the aim to coordinate the efforts of the different actors in this field. In the framework of this plan of action, the workshop aims to promote an enabling environment for freedom of expression, press freedom and the safety of journalists by facilitating media pluralism and participation, and by supporting sustainable and independent media institutions.

This project received support from the Government of Norway.