Journalists Urged to Spotlight Human Rights Issues in Malawi
By engaging journalists, Civil Alliance aims to create a more informed and responsive media landscape on human rights issues.
SALIMA, Malawi— A local nonprofit called on journalists to amplify human rights coverage during a media engagement meeting, writes Fegson Phabuli.
Citizen Alliance, a Malawian NGO, organized the event. It's part of their project promoting human rights protections.
The initiative targets vulnerable groups, including adolescent girls, sex workers, and people with disabilities.
"Human rights abuses are often overlooked in the media," said Baxton Nkhoma, the Citizen Alliance's Executive Director.
He emphasized the need for increased awareness and reporting on these issues.
The project responds to a 2022 World Bank-supported assessment.
"Some issues were identified as challenges to human rights," Nkhoma explained.
"This project is responding to that report."
The session aimed to empower journalists with skills for better human rights coverage.
Angela Mwape, a participant from Chisomo Radio, praised the training.
"It equipped us with valuable skills in researching, writing, and effectively covering human rights violations," she said.
The Citizen Alliance's initiative highlights a growing trend of NGOs partnering with media to address social issues.
It underscores journalists' critical role in promoting legal literacy and public awareness of human rights.
The organization's focus on vulnerable populations reflects ongoing concerns about marginalized groups in Malawi.
Citizen Alliance aims to create a more informed and responsive media landscape on human rights issues by engaging journalists.