Tuesday, January 23, 2018

PROMOAFRICA URGE AFRICAN JOURNALIST TO DEVELOPED INTEREST ON DISABILITY ISSUES

The president of PROMOAFRICA Mr. Seth Amoah Kwaku Addi have advised African journalists with interest in reporting on issues concerning Persons with disabilities to seek out stories about easing symptoms that come along with a disability instead of only reporting on efforts to decode its cause.

Speaking at the official launching ceremony of the training manual for African journalists on the PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN AFRICA, under the theme “THINK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT NOT PHYSICAL DEFORMITY”, he admonished journalists not to only simple quotes disability related stories from social service providers, academics and politicians and leave out people with disabilities. Because the mantra in the disability community is "nothing about us, without us.

He said, many policies, including the African Disability Charter, cover a wide range of disabilities. But in practice, people with disabilities are often left out when is time for its implementation.

Mr. Seth Addi further advised journalists to be aware of language that implies negative on persons with disabilities when reporting or writing articles and features, for example "wheelchair bound" or "suffers from. 

“The most basic rule is to use people first language. For example, "people with disabilities," not "the disabled”.

Beware of accommodations: When setting up an interview, be sure to ask if there are any accommodations you might need to provide. Do you need to arrange for a translator? Will the space you are meeting in be accessible? You may need to allow extra time for the interview if the person uses a translator or has slow speech.

Communication: If someone uses a translator, talk to them, not the translator. Do not talk about them in the third person. If someone has a speech impediment, never pretend to understand what they said if you don't. It may feel uncomfortable to ask someone to repeat themselves, but your most important responsibility is to hear what the person has to say.

Be aware of tropes and stereotypes: Common tropes include a "heroic person overcoming a disability" or a "violent person with mental illness." When you find yourself telling a story with this narrative, stop and check yourself to see if that is really what it is about. Ask yourself if there is more nuance you can include.

PROMOAFRICA officially launched the Journalists training manual on 23rd January 2018 at 11:00 am in Accra and stream live on our website www.promoafrica.blogsport.com, www.ghananewsonline.com, www.todayghananews.com and other media partners. The official launched was done Honorable Jeff T Kavianu, former Member of parliament Upper Manya constituency and some major stakeholders in the disability sector.


PROMOAFRICA has commence a project on the PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN AFRICA to reach out to policy makers, civil society organizations, opinion leaders, traditions and religious leaders and the media on the importance of Charter.
The Journalists training manual can now be accessed on the organisation’s website for free.


Source: PromoAfrica

Sunday, January 7, 2018

PROMOAFRICA TO TRAIN JOURNALISTS ON AFRICAN CHARTER ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES RIGHTS


One of Africa’s leading disability advocacy organization, PROMOAFRICA has developed a training manual on the PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN AFRICA to train journalist in Ghana and some selected Africa countries beginning February 2018.

According to an end of the communique issues by the organization and publish on its website, The Journalists network  assembled a team of knowledgeable journalists in expertise in strategic  communication that came out with perfect world class training manual that can be adopted by other disabled organizations all over Africa. 

Mr. Seth Addi, who is the President of PromoAfrica, explained that, it has become necessary for journalists in Ghana and Africa to be educated on the PROTOCOL OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN AFRICA, to enable them lead its advocacy, ratification and implementations.  

He said, Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the African Union African will meet at the first quarter of this year to adopt the charter, to pave way for persons with disabilities across the continent to have right to special measures of protection in keeping with their physical or moral needs.

Mr. Seth Addi also mentioned that, the project is being undertaken by PromoAfrica’s own internally generated funds and with commitments from Journalists with vast interested in disability issues.  

He said, training of journalist forms an integral part of PromoAfrica’s larger advocacy project on the African Charter as a tool for information dissemination, government and public engagement.

He said, The African Charter when ratify will go a long way to further the human rights and fundamental freedoms and universal rights of every individual recognized in global human rights instruments, including that of persons with disabilities.

He said, henceforth, PomoAfrica is determined to work with disability organizations and other non-governmental Organizations in Africa to promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in every corner in the continent of Africa to enable them to enjoy fully and equally human rights and fundamental freedoms.

PromoAfrica (The Network of Journalists for the Promotion of the Right of Persons with Disabilities in Africa), was formed in 2006 by a group of journalists in Ghana and other African countries to advance the plights of Persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Source: PromoAfrica