{Media practitioners and Rwanda Police officers yesterday started a three-day workshop that will focus on freedom of expression and public order as well as promoting safety of journalists.}
The workshop that is held at Rwanda National Police Headquarters in Kacyiru also seeks to increase interaction of journalists and law enforcers in the interest of enhancing public safety.
While presiding over the opening of the training, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda pointed out that relations between the media and the police are key to ensuring public safety, national development by effectively informing the public.
“Media and Police relations is an important aspect of policing that provides confidence and trust to the public. We definitely play a complementary role. Police being an institution that has constant interactions with the public must be on the forefront to efficiently engage with media without compromising public order. ,” said DIGP Marizamunda
He noted that, “since citizens are the clients of the media and the police, they should be given correct and timely information, not threatening or traumatizing, instead reassuring them of safe and security. The interplay between the media and the police must be good enough to preserve public order, provide security advisory on what to worry about if so that they can take correct necessary precautions and informed decisions.”
The DIGP Marizamunda pointed out that both the media and security organs have a major role to play in Rwanda’s development and transformation process.
“Journalists can only fulfill their duties if they work in a secure and conducive environment of which police is effectively in charge… we need to embrace all forms of communications because, if we don’t engage with people, they will move on without us and we will miss the opportunity to positively influence them,” he said.
The three-day workshop that was jointly organized by Rwanda Media Commission, Rwanda National Police is supported by United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), has drawn 45 police officers and 30 media practitioners from different media houses in the country.
Speaking at the training, the UNESCO representative, Peter Wallet told participants that, “RNP logo highlights its admirable moto of ‘Service, Protection, Integrity’. We advocate that this training session which bases itself on the concept of freedom of expression as a fundamental right, will serve effectively to reinforce these principles.”
He added that accountable, balanced and unhindered journalism plays a fundamental role in any democracy and ensures that freedom of expression is realized in the society.
“In parallel, police forces have an equally important role to play in the safety of those practicing in this profession . As such, journalists and the police can work together effectively forming a symbiotic relationship in which they collectively reinforce the basic fundamental rights,” he said.
The training intends to provide a forum for honest and transparent dialogue between journalists and police officers exploring many relevant topic including the role of the police in helping to ensure journalists can access the information they need, practical tools for journalists when covering conflicts, and guidelines around covering judicial proceedings among others.
According to the acting chairperson of RMC, Cleophas Barore, safety of journalists is of great value to the state and that’s why security forces are tasked with the responsibility for protecting journalists.
“RMC as a self-regulatory body will ensure the partnership between the media fraternity and the Police remains healthy,” he said.
The training is facilitated by Commander Ian Lafreniere from Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal, a serving police officer and an expert in communication.
At the end of the three days, both journalists and police officers will have forged a way of promoting partnership in maintaining public order quick sharing and access to information and shared channel of communication.
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