The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and its partners – media and state actors – will begin discussions on ways to improve the safety of journalists in Guinea-Bissau.
This initiative is part of the MFWA’s efforts within the framework of its Press Freedom project “Promoting Press Freedom and Access to Quality Information in Guinea-Bissau”, which is being implemented in Guinea-Bissau with the financial support of the European Union.
The aim of this activity is to promote collaboration between relevant state institutions and local media actors in drawing up a joint framework and mechanism to promote and protect the safety of journalists, as well as to provide platforms for addressing violations against the media.
Through a joint process involving media and state actors, a comprehensive national framework on the safety of journalists will be produced, detailing the roles and responsibilities of all those involved.
As a first step in the process, a 30-member group was set up, made up of state and non-state actors, including media managers, editors, regulators, academics, lawyers and policymakers. As part of the process, the MFWA hired a consultant in Guinea-Bissau to facilitate the development of the framework.
Through a series of joint and participatory meetings and consultations, a committee of experts will draw up a draft framework. The consultant will then present the project to stakeholders for validation, and the finalized framework will be launched during a major forum in November 2023.
The forum will be held at the Malaika Hotel in Bissau on September 27, 2023.
Therefore, the results of the forum are also intended to strengthen preventive mechanisms related to the safety of journalists in Guinea-Bissau.
Forum on a Comprehensive National Framework for the Safety of Journalists in Guinea-Bissau
