The history of media in Ethiopia stretches beyond one hundred years; however, for most of its history, the media generally remains under government control with strict censorship laws, so disclosed United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR-EARO).
On the consultative meeting with media professionals and journalists, on the key notes of United Nations Human rights office of the high commissioner delegate presenter, Sebena Gashaw recently indicated that many journalists had been subjected to abuse and detention connected with their reports relating to human rights violations. At least 60 journalists had fled Ethiopia since 2010, while at least another 19 were in prison.
The government had banned dozens of publications, and controlled most television and radio outlets. This left few options for Ethiopians to acquire independent information and analysis of domestic political issues. Government media was also accused of having a lack of independence and impartiality.
According to the statement to The Ethiopian Herald, the mentioned restrictions and challenges were relatively addressed after Dr. Abiy Ahmed came to power as Prime Minister in 2018. One of the reforms undertaken has been the effort towards the respect of freedom of press and freedom of speech. On the dawn of the reform, many journalists who had been detained were released.
The government also started revising freedom of mass media, access to information and anti-terrorism proclamations, which were known for their restrictive impositions on the functions of media.
United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, in collaboration with Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia, has organized a daylong consultation with various media and journalists to develop a comprehensive strategy on engagement in advancement of human rights in Ethiopia.
The objective of the consultation is to create a platform for various media professionals to convene and deliberate on their role on promoting human rights in Ethiopia. Discus their challenges and propose new ways for tackling those challenges, including countering hate speech in a combined effort.
The media plays a significant role in steering governments on the right path to protecting, enforcing and promoting human rights.
The incontestable power of independent media and its watchdog position over the government has been proven in many instances. The media can also take up the human rights agenda by publishing or broadcasting human rights programs. And media can mobilize human rights civil society organizations, strengthen popular participation in civil society, promote tolerance and shine a light on government activity.
Regional Representative of United Nations Human Rights Office of the high commissioner, Nwanneakolam Vwede-obahor on her part said that the office has a goal to cultivate relationship with media professionals.
This relationship is vital to the survival of society and serving nation and people. Journalism is not a job; however, it is a service. The media must create impact on the lives of people. And journalists should be protectors of human right cases and must speak the truth and advocators of truth.
Journalism is a field of high level responsibility and duty.Adding, she said that the media must fight against partisanship, divisibility, and hate speech. There is a quite difference between journalism and politics. Journalists should have a firm stance to speak siding the truth for the significance of the community. The media professionals must do with best knowledge of ability to protect human rights.
Consultant and Attorney at law and lecturer at College of Law and Governance studies at Addis Ababa University, Wubshet Girma pointed out that UN charter and Universal Human Rights have legitimate duty to defend the media professionals through means of facilitating technical support and standing for social and cultural as well as fundamental rights of human rights.
He further noted that indivisibility and independent media are significant for freedom of expression and gathering public opinion. Freedom of expression has a multiplier significance for mental rights and truth searching.
It as well has effect on preventing abuse of government’s power, fighting racial and ethnic discrimination, promoting self-governance and tolerance and upholding freedom of opinion, among others.
In this case, the government must be prohibiting any form of censorship, limiting access of information of public interest and diverse opinion. Also, it must abstain from narrowing defined of mass media law violations.
He further noted that journalists are jailed under the guise of violations of national security, disturbing public order and health, marring the well-being of the youth, as well as engaging in defamation, seditions and libel. And the media professional should be able to safeguard the people from moral vices of hate speech, false rumor, incitement, provoke others to commit act of violence, and among others.
The consultation brings together 25 media professionals drawn from private and governmental media outlets as well as social networks, have listed some of the challenges and hurdles in the media organizations. Fear and job insecurities, extremism outlook, ethnic mentality, ownership, prior-restraint and post censorships, knowledge and skilled gaps are some of the challenges faced by the media professionals found in the centers of media organizations.
Politicians, affiliated stakeholders, political parties and institutions, activists and advertisers, private and public organizations, media owners are the majors who violate press freedom and freedom of expression that are key instruments to safeguard inalienable rights of human rights and fundamental democratic principles.
The Ethiopian Herald December 5/2019
BY MEHARI BEYENE
