At the 52nd Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, the Council hosted a training programme for journalists from March 27th to 31st, 2023. Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) participated in the event, with representation by its Director of Programmes, Philip Jakpor.
The training aimed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the HRC’s mechanisms, functions, and their respective countries’ engagement with the Council. Attendees included journalists and civil society representatives from Brazil, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kosovo.
Over the five-day event, the diverse group of participants and facilitators discussed a range of pressing issues, including gender-based abuse, Russia’s war in Ukraine and its forced relocation and reeducation of Ukrainian children, land rights, climate change, and the global decline of civic freedoms.
Participants also engaged in various briefings and discussions led by NGO and UN experts on the HRC, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and the Special Procedures (UN Special Rapporteurs). These sessions highlighted the critical role of journalists in promoting the HRC’s work and fostering human rights awareness. Additionally, participants explored the challenges faced by journalists and human rights defenders globally, such as killings, arrests, intimidation, and surveillance.
The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including representatives from the Permanent Missions of Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil to the UN, officials from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and members of organizations like Defend Defenders, Universal Rights Group, Global Survivors Fund, and the Geneva Human Rights Platform.
CAPPA’s involvement in the training yielded positive outcomes and opportunities for further engagement with the Council. Among the key takeaways were an enhanced comprehension of the HRC and Special Procedures, insights into engaging Special Rapporteurs within CAPPA’s thematic areas of focus, and the prospect of spearheading the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in Nigeria.
Furthermore, participants at the event gained access to valuable resources and databases on human rights and the UNHRC, established connections with UN specialists for potential cooperation on data security and journalist protection, and broadened their network of media and civil society partners in Africa and Latin America for upcoming campaigns.
Armed with new knowledge, skills, and connections, CAPPA is poised to continue advancing human rights, holding powerful actors accountable, and ensuring that the voices of the marginalized and local people are heard.
