By Taisiah K. Merfee
The Anti-Aids Media Network on Friday, January 20, 2023 held a one-day policy Dialogue Engagement with Media and Civil Society actors on issues affecting key populations and marginalized groups in Liberia at the YWCA Compound in Congo Town, outside Monrovia.
The One-day interactive policy Dialogue brought together 20 practicing journalists and student journalists from the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism and civil society actors who are involved in advocacy, including Independent National Commission on Human Rights , Media Aids Foundation, Female Journalists Association of Liberia, among others.
Giving an overview of the Dialogue the Executive Director of the Anti-Aids Media Network, Necus Andrews highlighted the importance for journalists to face states Actors to have such a discussions that matter to the country.
He said The Network has over the years conducted several trainings for Media Workers on how to Report on Key Population and Marginalized groups in Liberia.
According to Andrews, it is time that Journalists specialize in a particular area that will enable them reach their value in the Liberian Media by doing that people will always look up to them for many things especially in their respective areas of specialization.
He said as an institution they will begin lot of training this year to help make Journalists understand their roles in Society and the World at large.
Making presentation at the one-day event Madam Wokie Cole, President of the Liberia Network of Persons Living with HIV said if Liberia must end AIDS by 2030, they need the full support of the Media and the government in the efforts.
She said Liberian government through the National AIDS Commission to place persons living with HIV at the center of various prevention programs and when the Media is reporting on it they need to use those Jargon that will not stigmatize them.
She also observed that lack of access to medication for key population persons who are living with HIV in rural communities remains a challenge.
On her part, the President of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) during her power point presentation at a day-long media Civil Society Dialogue held in Monrovia, Madam Scott-Johnson stressed the importance for Journalists to reports on Human Rights issue and get away with the One Political story.
The FeJAL boss believed that the equal rights for all citizens is important in the Work that Journalists do,” create the space for everyone to feel a part of the decision making.”
Madam Scott-Johnson also indicated that women cover half of the population in the world and as such, they should be given equal opportunity to explore their potentials.
Meanwhile, the FeJAL president stressed that now is a perfect and unique opportunity to promote gender balanced activities in the work we do as Journalists and to give Key populations the equal rights in the story we write.
Madam Scott-Johnson also indicated that the society belongs to everyone and that the perspectives of all must be heard in the public space.
Meanwhile, the Projects and Programs Coordinator, LEGAL said because of the sexual orientation and gender identity of these people, access to equal healthcare services for them has been difficult, a situation he wants stakeholders to unite and address.
“The issue of someone being a gay or lesbian is not a crime, but the only way it becomes a crime is when that individual is forced by another person without consent,” Mr. Thomas said.
