The Angie Brooks International Centre in partnership with ZOA With funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund on Thursday, June 9, 2022, held a Day Mediations Dialogue with fifty (50) media editors and reporters from Montserrado and Bong County under the theme: “Wearing off Fake News, Misinformation before, during and after elections under the flagship Program of The women’s Situation Room (WSR).
The Angie Brooks International Center for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security in partnership with ZOA-Liberia with support from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, launched a project titled: Sustainable and Inclusive Peace in Liberia Through Promoting Women Leadership and Participation in Civic and Political Life and Their Strengthen Role in Conflict Resolution.
The forum was initiated by Angie Brook’s International Center (ABIC) to enable safe, free, fair, and transparent elections across Africa with non-violence as it major objective.
During the dialogue, journalists and editors shared insightful conversations on the promotion of Gender Sensitive reporting, responsible reporting, and reporting with a gender lens.
The program seeks to provide reporters and editors a broader understanding as the Country moved toward the 2023 Presidential and legislative elections that are very critical to all Liberians. The event also seeks to enhance editors’ understanding of how to Report on Gender-sensitive issues during elections.
The gathering also focused on how social media should be controlled by the central Government in elections and the role and responsibilities of Journalists in elections – separating the personal from the politicians and how to prevent conflict during elections.
The engagement brought together 20 Journalists, from Bong County and 30 from Montserrado both of whom are reporters, editors, and television directors in order to enhance their basic understanding of how to report on these issues as the country gear towards the 2023 elections.
The program also included 20 communities within Montserrado and local leaders from Montserrado and Bong counties respectively.
Speaking at the dialogue, the Establishment Coordinator of ABIC Cllr. Cyvette Chesson-Wureh encouraged the journalists to try their best in protecting the peace that Liberians and other residents are enjoying today, adding that it is the responsibility of all Liberians to protect the peace of the country.
The Liberian international lawyer and Women’s rights activist called on Liberian Journalists to always follow up on issues that are related to women, especially in the upcoming elections and it is only the media that will flag up issues that are a concern to women.
“We as women need to know how to navigate our way during elections most especially when there will be more males competing for said positions and how we should send our messages to our audience”
The ABIC Boss said the peace is in the hands of the media when it comes to the upcoming elections because they are the ones whom society look to for information that will allow women to make an informed decision.
For her part, the Board of Directors of ABIC termed misinformation as one of the ways in which any nation can go into conflict, as such, there is a need for journalists to maintain a high level of professionalism during and before elections.
Madam Olubanke King-Akerele said “We have to be serious as the country gear towards the 2023 general presidential elections, mentioning that the media needs to focus on women issues as the country gets prepared for the upcoming elections
Commenting on the issue of drugs, she asserted that the country is in trouble, especially with the youth who are getting involved in the usage of drugs which is a serious problem for the country and its people.
The editors and reporters thanked ABIC for the platform and promised to continue to report with observation using the gender lens.
Reported by: Stephen G.Fellajuah
Email: fellajuahstepheng@gmail.com
