The North West Association of Development Organisations (NWADO) and Charmers Media and Communications Consults (CHAMECC) have noted that the parties to the conflict in the North West and South West regions are not respecting the Geneva Convention of 1949 that protect civilians.
The observation was made Friday April 16, 2021 in Bamenda during a training of citizen journalists and social media activists on professional reporting and advocacy on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in line with international humanitarian law.
In a key note presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of CHAMECC and one of the facilitators tasked journalists to carry on their lips, the Geneva Convention that protects the vulnerable during armed conflict. According to Charles Blasius Nji, hospitals,schools and churches are endangered areas as well as people with disabilities, journalists, humanitarian workers,health workers and women and children in relation to war.
Speaking to reporters after the serminar,Tombir Stanley, coordinator of NWADO said, "we have been bothered on the conduct this war is being prosecuted. Civilians, journalists, women, children and others have suffered alot in the ongoing conflict. To raise our voices we needed to mediatise the Geneva Convention which stipulates clearly how war should be executed"
"We also intend to raise the voices of citizens concerning the international humanitarian law and how warring parties can ensure that civilians are protected during conflict.We expect journalists to report professionally in a way that will cause no harm " he added
During the serminar participants were told to use Geneva Convention as a guiding principle in reporting and ensure striking a balance.
Joyceline Neba ,reporter with Dream Fm Bamenda attended the training and says, "we were drilled on reporting during conflict. I realized that we as reporters have responsibilities during conflict like ensuring balanced reporting, and above all being humane. It was an enriching serminar".
Arnauld Kouamo , blogger with GPmedia attended the serminar and left satisfied. "I have learned alot. Let me first of all appreciate the organisers. We are in an era where anybody with an android phone is a citizen journalist. The training was timely. Atleast the difference between a mainstream journalist and a citizen journalist is clear. When reporting we should think about the impact of our reports" he said.
The two days training workshop was organised with assistance from the Embassy of the United States of America in Yaounde.