By: Nicholas Bass and Isatou Sarr
A two-day training aimed at strengthening ethical standards on child rights reporting for Gambian journalists concluded at NaNa Conference Centre over the weekend.
The training programme, which brought together journalists from across the country, was organised by the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) in partnership with UNICEF Gambia and the Gambia Press Union (GPU).
The training targeted editors and senior reporters covering courts, human rights, social justice, and children’s issues. Participants were selected from diverse media houses to ensure broad representation. The initiative aimed to foster collaboration between reporters and editors while reinforcing the media’s role in child protection, advocacy, and policy development.
The first day focused on understanding child rights frameworks, legal and ethical obligations, and the media’s responsibility in shaping narratives around sensitive issues such as female genital mutilation (FGM/C). Resourced persons from IHRDA, the Gambia Bar Association, GPU, UNICEF, and partner organizations shared insights on promoting children’s rights while safeguarding their protection, privacy, and accuracy in reporting.
During the opening session, Michael Gyan Nyarko, Deputy Executive Director of IHRDA, underscored the crucial role journalists play in advancing human rights and protecting children. He highlighted IHRDA’s work in advocacy, litigation, and capacity-building and emphasized the importance of partnering with UNICEF and GPU to strengthen media professionalism, particularly as the country prepares for the Supreme Court hearing on the FGM/C ban.
GPU Vice President Sheriff Saidykhan urged journalists to uphold professionalism when reporting on sensitive issues such as FGM and gender-based violence, noting that children’s stories require careful handling. GPU Secretary General Modou Joof highlighted the need to prioritize children’s best interests and protect them from harm, referencing the Children’s Act, Women’s Act 2010, Women’s Amendment Act 2015, and notable legal cases including Almamy Gibba and Co. vs. Attorney General.
During the first session, Awa Gai, Legal Fellow at IHRDA, guided participants through key child rights frameworks, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), and The Gambia’s Children’s Act 2005 and amendments. She emphasized the legal obligations of the state, parents, and media, highlighting the need for child-sensitive reporting grounded in rights, ethics, and gender equality.
The training is part of a broader effort to ensure that journalists in The Gambia are equipped to report on child rights responsibly, ethically, and accurately, particularly on issues with significant social and legal implications.
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By: Nicholas Bass and Isatou Sarr A two-day training aimed at strengthening ethical standards on child rights reporting for Gambian…
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