Human Rights for journalists workshop winds up [Archives:2002/40/Local News]

BY FARUOK AL-KAMALI
TAIZ BURE, TAIZ
TAIZ-Organized by the Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRITC) and in cooperation with the Canada Fund Program for Local Initiatives, the second 2-day Training workshop for Journalists on Human Rights was concluded last Tuesday.
The 45 participants representing different Yemeni newspapers, and reporters of foreign media received lectures on human rights, press freedom, legal bars of journalist’s job and practical training on how to defend themselves. A human rights guide was issued for journalists to provide them with knowledge on human rights issues in the Yemeni legislation and constitution. The workshop trainers were delivered by Dr. Abdullah Khaleel, Majdi Helmi, and Dr. Mohammed Al Mekhlafi.
Mr. Mahboob Ali, the chairman of the Yemeni journalists Syndicate, confirmed that there is a tied link between human rights, and press and the workshop represents an important massage for all governmental and non-governmental organizations to help promoting and qualifying Yemeni journalists .
Mr. Ezdeen Al Asbahi. chairman of (HRITC), told Yemen Times that the workshop is within the((HRITC) program to qualify specific groups of the society like teachers, lawyers, judges and pressmen and raising the human rights awareness among Yemenis. “Legal education is very important for journalists to convey these principles to others as well as defend themselves in publication issues”. Al Asbahi stated.
In his speech, the Canadian ambassador to Yemen highlighted the significance of NGOs in the changes that have taken place in Yemen. “They are a powerful tool to sensitize communities to certain problems and to induce social change,” he said.
He pointed out that Canada highly values the work of NGOs and is proud to support their efforts through the Canada Fund.
Canada’s partnership with NGOs reflects our mutual commitment to making the world a safer place to live in….. the increase in our contribution in Yemen through the Canada Fund, from $150000 in 1999 to $300000 in 2000-01 and to $400000 last year and this year, lies within the scope of this logic,” he stressed. He said that in partnership with various NGOs, a lot has been accomplished in terms of democratic development, human rights and living conditions. He added that the Canada Fund supported 13 projects last year, covering health services, education for children and access to drinking water.

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