By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
Over 15 journalists from the South West region have recently benefited from a two day workshop organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The workshop which was aimed at training the media personnel on how to tackle situations of armed conflicts and violence took place in Buea and was headed by the coordinator for prevention and communication of the Internal committee of the Red cross, Richard Desgagne.
From February 27-28, 2018, the participants were schooled on the ICRC and its activities in Cameroon, various laws governing armed conflicts and how journalists are supposed to go about reporting events of armed conflicts and situations of violence.
The ICRC was established in 1863 and helps people around the world affected by armed conflicts and other violence.
As an independent humanitarian organization, the ICRC protects the dignity of persons and relieves them of their suffering by providing basic necessities such as, safe drinking water, food, sanitation, shelter, medical aid etc
Four basic principles guide the Committee of the Red Cross throughout their humanitarian mission: Humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality.
The ICRC equally ensures that the main role of protection, assistance, prevention and cooperation is maintained.
As concerns the protection of Journalists by the ICRC in situations of armed conflicts/violence, it should be noted that, in accordance with the international humanitarian law, journalists engaged in assignments in areas of armed conflict must be respected and protected, as long as they do not take action adversely affecting their status as civilians.
“The ICRC has been in existence for more than a while now and we have been carrying out activities, humanitarian operations. It is important for journalists to have exchanges where the ICRC can pass its humanitarian objectives across to them so as to enable the journalists spread the message to those victims of armed conflicts and situations of violence, so that they can be aware of the aid/ opportunities which can be offered to them by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Such a seminar will also go a long way to aid journalists in carrying out their reporting/ broadcasting of issues or stories relating to conflicts situations” Richard Desgagne told reporters.
He equally added that, though the committee is doing nothing yet concerning the crisis situations in the North West and South West regions of the country, they are already working on detention cases, by providing basic facilities for those in detention. He said the committee needs to carry out more evaluation concerning the crisis in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon and see if there are needs or not to chip in their assistance before a move could be taken.
Rosine Kam Belinga, also in charge of Communication at the ICRC and one of the main speakers during the 2 day workshop told the press that, the seminar organized in Buea is to tell journalists of what they ought to do and not do in situations of violence and armed conflicts. She encouraged journalists to not only focus on what is going on so that they can fulfill their obligations by getting a news item, but they should equally go further to investigate properly and offer a helping hand to victims of violence and armed conflicts if need arises.
“Journalists should be neutral in reporting an incident. They shouldn’t be biased and they should equally be objective” she added.
One of the keynote speakers, Ghislain, equally an active member of the ICRC, said in addition to the many obligations of the committee, they equally ensure that the rights of women and children in particular are expected.
“Children deserve special respect and should be given the care and help they need because of their age, the protection against all forms of sexual violence, reunification of unaccompanied children with their families are some of the preoccupations of the ICRC” he added.
Some senior journalists like Charlie Ndi Chia and Henry Mekole were equally invited at the seminar to share their experiences with the participants as well as tell them how to go about covering crisis in the country.
At the close of the event, participants were asked to produce a paper on the Red Cross and its activities in the country as well as examine the role journalists have to play in crisis or violence situations.
The ICRC functions in 80 countries around the world and has a majority of over 16,000 staff members.