The Media Actors in Guinea-Bissau(Sindicato dos Jornalistas e Técnicos de Comunicação Social da Guiné-Bissau Ordem dos Jornalistas da Guiné-Bissau OJGB Amprocs- GB RENARC-Rede Nacional Das Radios e Televisoes Comunitarias) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA ) visited the newly appointed Minister of Social Communication, Ms. Conceição Évora, today (February 21, 2024). The purpose of the visit was to present the project entitled “Promoting Media Freedom and Access to Quality Information in Guinea-Bissau”, which is being implemented with financial support from the European Union in Guinea-Bissau.
The project’s objectives are:
- Strengthen the capacity of media actors to monitor and document violations of media rights and freedom of expression
- Increase the capacity of key state actors on human rights issues and the media
- Increase the capacity of media organizations and professionals to produce quality, fact-based and ethical content to help counter messages of radicalization and violent extremism.
- Improve relations between the media and security with key state actors, such as the Police, the Military and the National Human Rights Commission, by jointly developing a Comprehensive National Framework on the Safety of Journalists in Guinea-Bissau.
The project’s main activities include training workshops on media ethics, human rights and freedom of expression (including digital rights); developing institutional documents, such as editorial, communication and fundraising policies for media actors; monitoring and reporting on the state of media freedom and freedom of expression in the country.
Media actors in Guinea-Bissau have also benefited from the creation and operationalization of a common website for the publication of issues related to violations of freedom of expression and significant developments affecting the media sector in the country.
The support of the Ministry of Social Communication is crucial to creating an environment conducive to the development of independent and pluralistic media, guaranteeing the safety and freedom of journalists. In the end, the mutual commitment to overcome these challenges and promote free and responsible media was reaffirmed.
The Project Team with the Minister of Social Communication “Promoting Media Freedom and Access to Quality Information in Guinea-Bissau”
