CHRAJ And OHCHR Train Ghanaian Journalists on Human Rights Reporting | General News

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) together with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has organized a two days training human rights capacity building workshop for journalists in Ghana.

A selected number of journalists have been brought together to build their capacity on human rights corpus, its mechanisms, why it matters to the work of journalists, and how to report and amplify human rights issues from an ethical and journalistic standpoint.

The training organized by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reflects a significant effort to equip Ghanaian journalists with the knowledge and skills needed to report on human rights issues effectively.

Given the critical role of journalists as gatekeepers of information, this initiative aims to enhance their understanding of human rights norms and the mechanisms in place to protect these rights. By focusing on the ethical and journalistic aspects of human rights reporting, the workshop not only strengthens the capacity of journalists but also aligns Ghana with international standards in human rights advocacy.

Dr. Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in an interview with the media said, human rights are fundamental freedoms to which everyone is entitled to regardless of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed, social, economic, sexual/gender identity, disability, or any other status.

According to him, they are universal, indivisible, interrelated, and interdependent. But more importantly, they are not a preserve of people we like. Thus, they are entitlements for all to enjoy without any reservation.

In an era where information flows faster than ever before, the role of journalists has never been more critical. It is in this light that the objective of the workshop seeks to deepen participants understanding of human rights norms and the SDGs “he said “

To better engage with human rights mechanisms (universal periodic reviews as well as special rapporteurs) including human rights institutions such as CHRAJ, for enhanced human rights protection.

The collaboration between CHRAJ and OHCHR also signals a strong commitment to upholding human rights standards in Ghana, aligning the country with international norms and practices. This partnership could set a precedent for future initiatives aimed at strengthening human rights education and advocacy within the media sector.

Robert kotchani , he country Representative of OHCHR  on his part said, in line with its global mandate, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) works to promote and protect the effective enjoyment by all human rights which includes the right to freedom of expression, including media freedom and other rights of journalists and media worker.

The two days workshop was joined by some colleagues from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) ,UN WOMEN and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)