Somali Women Journalists Organization IMS-FOJO launched on Monday a three-day round table discussion on Somali media law for 25 media workers in Garowe the administrative capital of Puntland.
Participants drawn from the various media houses in Puntland, attended the workshop which focused on presentation of the views and the thoughts of the journalists especially women journalists on Somali media law. The main topics focused were the gender perspective of the media law that were not given any consideration during drafting of the law.
Ms. Meymun Abdirazak Khalif, SWJO representative in Puntland welcomed and introduced the participants to the workshop and stated its objectives while noting the importance of the round table discussion urged the participants to actively participate in the dicussions.
Khalif underlined that the new media has restrictions that violates the rights of journalists particularly women and advised the participants to have serious discussions on the provisions of the bill and come up with recommendations that will spearhead the review of the amended media bill.
Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Human Rights have shared their concerns regarding the amendment to the media law which was signed into law in August 2020.
The organisations have documented severe restrictions on the media and the right to freedom of expression in Somalia and have called on the Somalia government to create a conducive legal environment for journalists and media organisations to operate.
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