We are working in partnership with the International Center for Transitional Justice and Search for Common Ground to train media professionals in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Uganda to raise public awareness, understanding and debate about the mechanisms of 'transitional justice'.
Start date: January 2007
End date: January 2009
Media types: radio, print, online
Issue: governance and human rights
Countries: Burundi, DRC, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda
As Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi and Uganda emerge from conflict, perpetrators of human rights abuses are being brought to trial.
In the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fighting continues between local ethnic groups, proxy militias supported by Uganda and Rwanda, UN forces, and breakaway factions of the national army.
None-the-less, the International Criminal Court has opened an official investigation into crimes committed in the DRC and a truth and reconciliation commission and national observatory of human rights have been created.
We are working with local media professionals in all five countries to raise public awareness, understanding and debate about the mechanisms of 'transitional justice', including the activities of international tribunals, the International Criminal Court and truth and reconciliation commissions.
TrainingIn-depth face-to-face and online training is providing media professionals in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Uganda with the knowledge, skills and motivation needed to report responsibly on the selection, implementation and impact of transitional justice mechanisms in their respective countries.
A syllabus was developed for the face-to-face training sessions and an 80-page handbook was published to provide a practical and lasting resource for journalists, media institutions and others following transitional justice developments in their countries.
Online learning
Face-to-face training is reinforced with a tailored online learning course that includes modules on basic journalism skills and newly developed modules on how to report on transitional justice mechanisms, such as special courts and truth commissions.
The online learning courses are built using the BBC World Service Trust's unique online journalism training tool - iLearn.
Training materials and other useful resources are available on a dedicated website: www.communicatingjustice.org
Supporting coverage: the trial of Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor is charged by the Special Court of Sierra Leone with war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The Special Court, an independent tribunal established jointly by the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone, is using the International Criminal Court facilities during the trial, which is expected to last for 18 months.
As part of the 'Communicating justice' initiative, we are training, deploying and supporting a team of six Liberian and Sierra Leonean journalists to cover the court proceedings from The Hague.
Research and impact
We are working with the International Center of Transitional Justice, the Human Rights Center, University of California-Berkeley and Search for Common Ground to assess public knowledge and opinions about transitional justice in the region. More
Working in partnership
Our key partner, the International Center for Transitional Justice, has wide expertise on transitional justice issues and has worked extensively in Sierra Leone, Burundi, DRC, Uganda and Liberia.
