UNESCO rolls out mechanism for protection of journalists

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has rolled out a national coordination mechanism for safety of journalists that seeks to protect and prevent crimes against journalists in Uganda.

The mechanism, according to Lydia Gachungi, the coordinator of safety for journalists at UNESCO regional office for Eastern Africa will also support the process of prosecution of perpetrators of crimes against journalists. She was speaking to media stakeholders at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Tuesday

"Journalists in Uganda face the same challenges that other journalists experience globally. They include high level censorship for fear of arrest, harassment, low remuneration, lack of policies to secure female journalists, long working hours among others," Gachungi said.

However, once the mechanism is in place, Gachungi said it will help provide a safe and secure environment for journalists by preventing violence against them.

UNESCO is the UN lead agency that promotes press freedom and media development among others.

Giving an overview of the state of safety of journalists in Uganda, Prof Goretti Nassanga from the department of journalism and communication at Makerere University said until ‘we' organise our house, the safety of journalists may remain a mystery, calling for the commitment of journalists towards the mechanism.

Charity Ahimbisibwe, the communication and advocacy manager at Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda said the new platform will push for national, regional and international efforts towards solving journalists concerns.