Strengthening Journalist’s Capacities on Human Rights Reporting in Timor Leste

• © UNESCO/Yunita Mandolang

UNESCO Jakarta in collaboration with the Timor Leste Media Development Centre (TLMDC) is developing a comprehensive project that aims to address two gaps in training of journalist’s in generally, and the reporting on human rights and access to training material particularly. Working together with government partners, media and academics, this activity will contribute to greater public awareness and improve the knowledge and capacity of rights holders to claim their rights.

The project includes a training workshop for media practitioners that will be held in Dili from the 22nd to the 26th of August; the production of guidelines for journalists on human rights reporting and the first steps to set the basis for the development of Human Rights curricula for journalism studies.

The independence of media actors (print journalists, TV, radio and internet) is key element to the consolidation of democratic institution in Timor Leste. Media professionals are playing important role in collecting, verifying, producing, and distributing information to the general public. As such, journalists must have an understanding of legal frameworks, both national and international, knowledge of human rights issues and international standards, and the ability to communicate these complex set of information to the public in an informed and documented way.

The project is planned to be replicated in Indonesia in the upcoming months.

For further information click here.

• 01-06-2011