The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has organized training jointly with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for lawyers on journalists’ rights.
The training targets media lawyers.
According to several sources, the purpose of the training is to equip the lawyers with skills that enable them to defend journalists and news media organizations around Somalia.
The East African nation is one of the most dangerous places for journalists worldwide. Journalists are routinely arrested, detained without being taken to court, maimed, and killed in the country.
NUSOJ and UNESCO held the training program from August 24-28 in Mogadishu.
Bashe Yusuf Ahmed, the Chief Justice of Somalia who also serves as the President of the Supreme Court, officiated the training.
Chief Justice Ahmed congratulated NUSOJ and UNESCO for the incredible program.
He reiterated the fact that “sacrosanctity of media freedom in the society.”
He reminded participants at the training that Somalia’s Provisional Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and media freedom.