Journalists urged to fight torture

By Abdulkarim Ssengendo

THE Advisor-Human Rights, Conflicts and Gender European Union, Rosette Sayson Meya, has urged journalists to be the lead crusaders of the fight against all acts of torture in the community.

She informed them that torture was increasing in the country and in people’s homes where children are the most vulnerable. The 2007 Amnesty International reported that torture was being practiced in 81 countries.

She cautioned them not to be used as influence of torture during the coming election period.

She commended efforts already done by media in the fight against torture but appealed to them to endeavor to have factual data and have in-depth understanding of what they report about torture.

She made the comments while opening two days awareness training on torture among media practitioners which started on Wednesday. 

The training is ongoing at Esella Country Hotel in Kampala. The training is attended by journalists from different media houses and were picked from different regions.

She was pleased about the representation of media from different regions and media houses in the training and urged them to commit their time to acquiring skills on investigative reporting.

Samuel Nsubuga the CEO of Africa Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV), informed the journalists that the organization’s target is to reach out to 1000 survivors per year.

He informed journalists that the punishment for perpetrators of torture is up to life imprisonment. He also emphasized that journalists should be allies in creating awareness on torture.

He said the organization has created awareness not only to media but also to other groups like security, the community and medical workers.