The AVOCATS SANS FRONTIERES, ASF, has announced plans to collaborate with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in enhancing digital rights in Nigeria.
This was made known when a delegation led by the member of the board, Ivan Paneff, visited the National Secretariat on Monday.
According to Ivan Paneff, the e-Rights Project would establish mechanisms that ensure independent and fair access to justice, protecting fundamental human rights of journalists in Nigeria as well as legal aid and assistance to vulnerable individuals, such as victims of human rights violations, in national and international jurisdictions.
While underscoring the importance of the National conference that is underway, he stressed the need for capacity building through training and collaboration with local partners.
He cited the advantage to the International Institute of Journalism, IIJ, on digital Rights and data security.
He said “It is important for the citizen with your help or assistance to know how to protect their electronic rights and the dangers and advantages of using digital tools.
“I learnt you have a school here and would like to hear you speak on that and we see how we can associate with the school for the next future because the guideline of the project is to ensure sustainability.”
Mr Ivan Paneff advised journalists to check their sources while using Artificial Intelligence to generate their data.
He said: “In other words, AI is a very good tool for us, but ethics of journalism are necessary.”
Also speaking, the Country Director, Avocats San Frontieres, Mrs Angela Uzoma disclosed the continued collaboration with the NUJ with a component of the project focusing on press freedom hence the concept of digital Rights for the press.
She said: “Our focus on the project is to ensure safe space online for people to engage particularly Journalists knowing the crucial role journalists play in every democracy and also see what transpired lead up the general elections in Nigeria and as we continue to monitor what is going on, holding government accountable we see how the digital space plays a key role in ensuring that they have space to speak up for journalists to put up their report on cases of harassment, arrest, intimidation against journalists.
“So, one of the things we are doing now at the e-right project is that we have the legal aid that provides legal aids to journalists and during the last meeting with the immediate past president of the NUJ we urged the NUJ to refer cases of harassment is journalists.
“We have a team of lawyers who are trained to take up these cases, and so far, we have taken up these cases in Lagos and Kano.”
” One of the things we will urge journalists to do is to select legal representation, partner with organizations like us and be patient because if executives goes after them and they are forced to make apology then what that does is that it has a shocking effect on journalism in the country unless you fabricated your story” she added
Responding, the national president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Comrade Alhassan Yahya commended AVOCATS SANS FRONTIERS for the visit and for investing in Nigerian Journalists
He assured the organisation that the NUJ would be at the forefront in creating more visibility on the project while calling on the ASF to involve the IIJ in its partnership for more capacity building for journalists and urged them to ensure sustainability
“NUJ is the mother of all practising journalists in Nigeria with 36 state councils. Our job is very simple, and I want to assure you that NUJ will continue to work with you.
“Let me thank you most sincerely for investing in Nigeria. If you go through the cyber crime act, it is one act that is hindering the way we operate as Journalists in Nigeria and I think it’s high time for all of us to stand firm towards reviewing such act.
“At the same, I am assuring you that we will do everything humanly possible to file cases of e- digital issues to your organization because I am aware you have lawyers who are willing and ready to defend journalists.
“We have the IIJ, an institute belonging to the NUJ with the sole aim of training and retraining journalists across the country.
“If you look at this place, it is a very vast land, and in the area of sustainability, we will do everything possible to sustain what you are doing.
“We are trying to see how to restructure the institute and own our radio station. That radio station will go a long way to ensure persons coming in will learn practical aspect of our profession and above all it will be used as a rallying point to make sure Nigerians journalists are the best to protect, promote and hold government accountable and also citizens accountable.
“We are assuring you that the councils will work with you to achieve your project. The Chairman of the NUJ FCT is here, and I am assuring you that your organization will achieve your goal and let us ensure there is the concept of sustainability.
“It is also important to ensure citizens understand electronic rights, and NUJ will be at the forefront to create more visibility,” he added
Present at the gathering were the National Secretary of the Union, Achike Chudu, Deputy National Secretary, the NUJ FCT Council Chairman Comrade Grace Ike, Vice Chairman Yahaya Ndambabo, Secretary of Council Jide Oyekunle and other members of the ASF France delegation.
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