OMCT and GMEDIA concluded their third workshop for journalists on "Media empowerment against torture"

OMCTAND GMEDIA CONCLUDED THEIR THIRD WORKSHOP FOR JOURNALISTS ON “MEDIA EMPOWERMENTAGAINST TORTURE”

Geneva (Switzerland), November 11th,2013. The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and GMEDIA concluded onNovember 8th, 2013 their third workshop for journalists on “MediaEmpowerment Against Torture” that was held in Geneva from November 4thto November 8th, 2013.

The jointfive-days workshop, which was held in parallel with the 51st Sessionof the United Nations (UN) Committee Against Torture (CAT), had the mainobjective to provide selected journalists with a comprehensive overview on theprohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment orpunishment (“ill-treatment”) and relevant international human rights protectionand promotion mechanisms, notably the CAT.

Ninejournalists from Burkina Faso participated in the joint workshop and attendedin parallel the CAT sessions on Burkina Faso. The journalists benefited fromdebates and discussions conducted by human rights experts from civil society,media, the CAT and permanent missions on various topics such as the absoluteprohibition of torture and ill-treatment, UN human rights mechanisms, and thesignificant role that media can play in addressing the challenge of torture andimpunity. Journalists also had the opportunity to share their experiences andexpectations towards national and international civil society and UNmechanisms.

“…Thanksto this training, we have gained crucial knowledge about the promotion andprotection of human rights. The training enabled us to reinforce our knowledgeof the phenomenon of torture. We will be at the forefront of the application byour country of its commitments…” wrote a participant from Burkina Faso.

The jointworkshop will result in the publication of articles that will be available online[1].

Theworkshop was organised thanks to the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairsof Denmark and the German Federal Foreign Office. Its content is the soleresponsibility of OMCT and Gmedia.

For further information on theworkshop, please contact:

• GMEDIA: Francesca Piccin, Tel. +41 22 809 49 33
• OMCT: Alexandra Kossin, Tel. +41 22 809 49 39

[1]www.gmediacenter.net