A workshop organized by the Initiative for Peaceful Journalists in collaboration with the Peace Bridge Association and with support from Saferworld Organization concluded with recommendations to combat hate speech and promote peace.
The two-day workshop was on Sunday and Monday in El Fasher, North Darfur State.
Dr. Zakaria Adam El Rashid, the chairman of the Higher Council for Culture and Media in the state and the head of the initiative, told Radio Tamazuj after concluding the first session on contemporary media issues, that the purpose of the gathering was to discuss the role of media in cultural issue, social cohesion, combating hate speech, and coordination between media institutions.
“We also discussed the challenges faced by the media in the state,” he explained. “The workshop produced a package of recommendations, including the necessity for the media to fulfill its true or professional role and to contribute to advocating for community issues and issues related to peace and development in North Darfur.”
A Journalist and academic, Abdul Azim Qolo, one of the workshop participants, pointed out that they addressed several issues of concern to journalists, with the most prominent being social cohesion, combating hate speech, and peacebuilding.
“We recognized the significant role of journalists in these issues and the discussions were purposeful and extensive,” he stated.
Azim praised the Higher Council for Culture and Media for organizing the workshop and urged the entity to organize more such workshops and forums, especially in light of the ongoing war in Sudan.