Communicating Justice

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Communicating Justice conducts first training course in French

Twenty Congolese print and broadcast journalists completed a two-week training course on reporting transitional justice in Kinshasa in May, saying they are keen to follow up on what they learned. “I intend to add to our productions a specialist slot on transitional justice, to popularize what we have learned,” said one TV journalist who participated. Asked to evaluate the course, another participant wrote: “I learned lots of things that have changed my way of working. The new ideas and principles I have learned will help me communicate better with my readers.”

The course, organized by the BBC World Service Trust and the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), came as the DRC grappled with a fragile peace in the east and generalized impunity for gross human rights abuse. Training focused on enhancing both the knowledge and journalistic skills needed for good coverage of transitional justice issues, which include international and national prosecutions for gross human rights abuse, truth commissions, reparations for victims, reform of the army, police, judiciary and other state institutions.

Interactive sessions included several guests and a visit to the Kinshasa office of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Trainees were able to practise their newly enhanced interview skills on Pascal Turlan, an analyst from the prosecutor’s office of the ICC in The Hague, and cover a press conference by Pierre Akele, president of the High Military Court of Kinshasa. 

Debate, role play and discussion often focused on issues of peace, justice and victims rights. “It seems that we have been living this reality without realizing it,” commented one newspaper editor who participated. “From now on, our articles will reflect it.”

While trainees were overwhelmingly positive in their evaluation of the face to face training course, their comments also reflected the difficulties of their working environment. “The essential things were covered, and now it is up to us journalists to continue the work on the ground,” said one, adding that follow-up would require dedication.

“Transitional justice reporting requires informed, in-depth coverage. On a daily basis, that will be difficult.” Several participants also pointed to lack of equipment and power supply problems but said they still wanted to complete the online training course. Trainees were shown how to use the online learning system and given a small grant to facilitate use of public Internet facilities.   

The project also organized a number of activities to ensure support from editors and media managers of CJ trainees. As well as in-house meetings and briefings on transitional justice, these included a high-level discussion forum on “Transitional Justice and the Media in DR Congo”. This received an impressive turnout from senior editors and media decision makers in Kinshasa.

A distinguished panel of speakers included: ICC representative Paul Madidi, who spoke about the ICC’s activities in DRC; lawyer and human rights activist Freddy Kitoko, who spoke about efforts to revive a truth commission; lawyer Nicole Odia, who addressed issues of sexual violence and women’s rights; and Tshivis Tshivuadi, secretary-general of press freedom organization Journaliste en Danger, who addressed issues of journalist security. Their remarks were followed by a lively discussion, moderated by Lena Slachmuijlder, director of Search for Common Ground in the DRC.   

The course was held at the Institut de l’Audiovisuel Congolais (ICA), a media training centre established with support from the French government and now run by the Congolese state broadcasting company RTNC.  Trainees included 9 women and 11 men. Nine participants came from outside the capital Kinshasa, mostly from the war-torn east of the vast country.

This was the fourth in-country training course run by the Communicating Justice project, and the first in a francophone African country. In preparation for this course, the project website launched interactive pages in French as well as English.

The site contains a number of specially developed training materials available in both languages, including a handbook for journalists, a list of links to useful websites and a glossary of legal terms.

The Communicating Justice project covers five countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi. Training in DR Congo is being followed up by a specially developed online learning course. Face to face training goes to Burundi in July 2008.

Meanwhile, to view the best stories from DRC and other target countries, and for more information about the project, please check out  this website and be sure to send us your comments!