Foroyaa News : ECOWAS Mobilises the Media to Promote Peace From ECOWAS of Governments to ECOWAS of the Peoples

 

Last week the Ecowas Commission, convened a meeting of media personnel from fourteen member states to adopt minimum norms and standards against hate media and for democracy for media practitioners in member states with the main objective of mainstreaming conflict prevention in media practice in member states.

The meeting was convened in partnership with the Media Foundation for West Africa and was held in Accra from 4 to 5 February, 2010.

Other objectives of the meeting included:

1. Share views on the methodology for forging a west African information landscape of freedom, transparency and accountability, where the electronic and print media shall become veritable watchdogs of human security, and platforms for mobilisation and discourse on the processes to promote human rights and the rule of law, common citizenry and integration, social harmony, democracy and development.

2. Develop a framework to enhance the capacity of the media in West Africa to lend visibility to ECOWAS’s vision of transforming the region into an ECOWAS of the Peoples based on common community citizenship, free movement and constitutional convergence principles.

3. Develop a framework for cooperation and coordination between ECOWAS and the media on the prevention of hate media.

4. Examine the challenges and strategies to promote freedom of information and combat the persecution of media practitioners.

The Ghanaian Ministers of both Information and Communication addressed the meeting.

All speakers emphasised the importance of taking peace prevention measures to avoid violent conflicts. They all criticised the promotion of hate speeches by the media, which involves using the media to manufacture and spread prejudices, lies and other falsehoods so as to incite some sections specifically defined and set aside to be so treated, solely on the basis of some perceived differences – social, cultural or natural.

The participants from The Gambia included Emil Touray of the Gambia Press Union, Alagie Jobe of Daily Observer and Sam Sarr of Foroyaa, who made a presentation on "The Increasing Responsibility of Media Practitioners to Protect and Promote Human Rights and the Rule of Law".

At the end of the meeting:

1. The Norms and Standards For The Media In The Promotion Of Peace And Security In West Africa was adopted;

2. It was agreed to form an ECOWAS Forum Of Media Practitioners In West Africa for the purpose of bringing media practitioners in the sub-region together to promote the ideals of a united integrated West Africa of the Peoples as propounded in the ECOWAS mandate and protocols.

3. A communiqué was issued which, among other things, dealt with the rights and safety of media practitioners.

Foroyaa will publish the full text of these documents in subsequent issues.