In the context of The Human Rights Journalist training programme, the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) concluded a training session on Media Freedoms and Legal Protection of Journalists. Aimed at providing capacity development in human rights and legal aspects related to journalists’ professional activity, the training event targeted a group of digital media, public relations, and telecommunications students at the An-Najah National University.
The training is part of a long-term collaborative programme implemented by the ICHR jointly with the Media Centre of the An-Najah National University. Entitled The Human Rights Journalist, the programme targets a number of media students over one year.
The two-day training session covered several themes. It mainly introduced students to the concepts of human rights, relevant terminology, international legal frameworks for media freedoms and journalism. The training improved students’ skills and boosted their technical and academic capacity to mainstream human rights in media coverage and reporting activities. It provided an overview of mechanisms for the protection of journalists both nationally and internationally. In addition to developing students’ capacity to disseminate and introduce human rights culture, the training covered mechanisms and skills for monitoring media freedoms in Palestine, occupational safety of journalists in the field, and hate speech.
The training was delivered by IHCR staff, including Advocate Sami Jabareen, Head of the Investigation and Complaints Department, Anas Bawatneh, Head of the Lobbying and Advocacy Department, Majeed Sawalhah, Head of the Media and Public Relations Unit, and Advocate Ala’ Nazzal, Director of the IHCR Office in Northern West Bank. Ms. Narmeen al-Kouni, volunteer at the ICHR, addressed how media representatives and journalists should deal with persons with disability.
According to Sawalhah, in its plan of action, the ICHR included the training programme, The Human Rights Journalist, with a view to increasing capabilities of fourth-year media students at four Palestinian universities, namely Birzeit, An-Najah, Al-Aqsa, and Islamic universities. Implemented in parallel, the programme places a focus on developing the capacities and skills of students engaged in rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly, and access to information. Freedom of the press and freedom of peaceful assembly are among the issues, which the ICHR monitors and receives complaints on. By the end of the training programme, students will be capable of producing digital, film/video, radio, and print media material on themes of relevance to human rights and media freedoms.