In a bid to enhance the quality of reporting on sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Uganda, journalists from various media outlets have undergone a comprehensive training program.
The training session, led by Amon Mulyowa a seasoned expert, focused on equipping journalists with a deep understanding of Uganda’s policies that influence young people’s health and development. These policies include the National Gender Policy (2016), National Youth Policy (2016), Adolescent Health Policy (2012), and the Draft National School Health Policy (2019), among others.
The training also delved into international law acts that play a significant role in protecting SRHR, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
Ronnie Tusingwire, the SRHR Alliance Uganda Programmes Coordinator, emphasized the importance of the training, stating, “We conducted this training to change the narrative and provide journalists with the information they need to report on SRHR issues effectively.”
Tusingwire added, “Journalists are pivotal to the work we do. They amplify our voices, work, and society believes in them.”
The training aimed to empower journalists to report on SRHR issues responsibly and confidently, ultimately raising public awareness on these critical issues. With this newfound knowledge, journalists are better equipped to educate, advocate, mediate, and monitor SRHR issues, contributing to a more informed and engaged public discourse.