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PRESS RELEASE
OMCT AND GMEDIA CONCLUDED THEIR THIRD WORKSHOP FOR JOURNALISTS ON “MEDIA EMPOWERMENT AGAINST TORTURE”

Geneva (Switzerland), November 11th, 2013. The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and GMEDIA concluded on November 8th, 2013 their third workshop for journalists on “Media Empowerment Against Torture” that was held in Geneva from November 4th to November 8th, 2013.
The joint five-days workshop, which was held in parallel with the 51st Session of the United Nations (UN) Committee Against Torture (CAT), had the main objective to provide selected journalists with a comprehensive overview on the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (“ill-treatment”) and relevant international human rights protection and promotion mechanisms, notably the CAT.
Nine journalists from Burkina Faso participated in the joint workshop and attended in parallel the CAT sessions on Burkina Faso. The journalists benefited from debates and discussions conducted by human rights experts from civil society, media, the CAT and permanent missions on various topics such as the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, UN human rights mechanisms, and the significant role that media can play in addressing the challenge of torture and impunity. Journalists also had the opportunity to share their experiences and expectations towards national and international civil society and UN mechanisms.
“…Thanks to this training, we have gained crucial knowledge about the promotion and protection of human rights. The training enabled us to reinforce our knowledge of the phenomenon of torture. We will be at the forefront of the application by our country of its commitments…” wrote a participant from Burkina Faso.
The joint workshop will result in the publication of articles that will be available online[1].
The workshop was organised thanks to the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the German Federal Foreign Office. Its content is the sole responsibility of OMCT and Gmedia.
For further information on the workshop, please contact: