Empowering the Media to Advocate for Human Rights
Press Release
For Immediate Release
16 October 2024
World Vision Lesotho and the European Union Host Editors Sensitization Workshop; Journalist Training Scheduled for October
Maseru, Lesotho — In a continued effort to strengthen the role of the media in promoting human rights and advocating for vulnerable communities, World Vision Lesotho, in collaboration with the European Union, is hosting a one-day Editors Sensitization Workshop. This engagement is part of two key EU-funded initiatives, the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (PPHR) project and the Accelerating Action for Eliminating Child Labour and Forced Labour (AECFL) project, bringing together media professionals to explore the critical role of journalism in promoting human rights, particularly in areas such as child labour, human trafficking, and the protection of the rights of people with disabilities.
The workshop will be held on the 16 October 2024, and will be attended by editors from various media houses across Lesotho, as well as representatives from the European Union in Lesotho delegation, Ministry of Labour, civil society organizations, including the Lesotho National Federation of Organizations for the Disabled (LNFOD), Beautiful Dream Society (BDS), and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). Discussions will center around the media’s mission to not only inform but to serve as advocates for change in Lesotho, especially for marginalized communities.
World Vision Lesotho’s National Director expressed the importance of this engagement, stating, “The media holds immense power in shaping public perception and policy. As gatekeepers of information, editors play a crucial role in promoting justice and protecting the most vulnerable among us. This workshop is a reminder of our shared responsibility to ensure that stories of human trafficking, child labour, and disability rights are told with sensitivity and impact.”
The sensitization workshop comes as a follow-up to last year’s successful media engagement, where 20 editors were sensitized on the media’s role in advocating for human rights, and 25 journalists were trained in human rights reporting. The 2023 engagement resulted in 54 entries for the World Vision Media Engagement Awards, with articles addressing issues ranging from hunger, malnutrition, and drought, to human trafficking, children’s rights, and policy advocacy.
Upcoming Journalist Training: October 22nd – 24th, 2024
Building on the success of these media initiatives, World Vision Lesotho with funding from the European Union through these two projects; is pleased to announce an upcoming three-day journalist training scheduled for October 22nd to 24th, 2024. The training will further equip journalists with essential skills to report on sensitive human rights issues, including trafficking in persons, child labour, forced labour, and the protection of the rights of people with disabilities. This training, which will be attended by journalists from various media outlets, aims to empower them with the tools needed to adopt a human rights-centered approach in their reporting. Through this training, journalists will deepen their understanding of the ethical considerations required when reporting on vulnerable populations and human rights violations.
About the Projects
The Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (PPHR) project, funded by the European Union, aims to contribute to strengthening social protection systems that prevent, monitor, and respond to trafficking in persons and the violations of the rights of people with disabilities. It operates in seven districts in Lesotho: Mokhotlong, Leribe, Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng, Mohale's Hoek, and Quthing.
The Accelerating Action for Eliminating Child Labour and Forced Labour (AECFL) project, also funded by the European Union, seeks to prevent and eliminate child labour, forced labour, and human trafficking through increased awareness and strengthened labour legal frameworks. The project covers five districts: Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng, Mohale's Hoek, and Quthing.
ENDS.
Note to editor
For more information contact:
Lerato Brown, Communications and Marketing Manager, lerato_brown@wvi.org +266 58911020 or Reentseng Phephetho, Communications and Digital Officer, Reentseng_phephetho@wvi.org +266 57430126
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.wvi.org/lesotho or follow us on Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn