Youth Conference on Freedom of Expression in EAC

{{The Youth organization for Human Rights Promotion and Development (AJPRODHO-JIJUKIRWA) with the support of GIZ will host a Youth Conference on Freedom of Expression in the East African Community in Kigali Hilltop Hotel from 2nd to 5th June 2014 with 30 participants from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi.}}

The Conference will be held under the theme,”Your opinion matters. Make your voice heard!”,

The conference’s purpose is to create dialogue and shed light on how freedom of expression is perceived within the East African Community.

Participants will exchange about ways to overcome challenges and learn from the experience of those from other countries.

They will look in depth at freedom of speech, the right to seek, receive and impart information and the right to hold opinion without interference, in the framework of respective legal context.

Professional trainers will run workshops on debate, CINEDUC (educational approach using film) and forum theatre to incite discussions.

Theatre is a powerful way to work with sensitive issues. It engages emotions of both, actors and audience. Thereby actors verbally and non-verbally are able to express their views.

Equally the audience has the opportunity to examine and voice their own ideas. This process stimulates reflection on opinions and strengthens dialogue.

AJPRODHO intends to teach youth to understand their rights and to use these skills in their own lives to become advocates in their own communities.

On Thursday June 5th 2014, a debate with participants from government, civil society, youth representatives and media will take place from 9 a.m. to 12.30 a.m.

Participants will debate how youth can engage in an open dialogue with government representatives to participate in the development of their countries.

This meeting will spur exchange of visions and practices across the East African Community.