ENGAGING MEDIA PRACTITIONERS IN ADDRESSING TORTURE, VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN KENYA

About Us

The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) is a governance, health and human rights non-profit organization, whose vision is A Just World Free from Torture. Our work is underpinned by a holistic approach involving litigation, medical and psychosocial rehabilitation of survivors of torture, monitoring government adherence to its human rights obligations and advocacy for policy, legal and institutional reforms. Over the last 25 years, we have assisted over 5,000 victims of torture, cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment through the support of our national networks of professionals: doctors, trauma counselors, lawyers, human rights monitors and journalists. IMLU came into being way back in 1992, was registered as a trust in 1995 and subsequently as a non-governmental organization in 2003. Our programs are designed and aligned to our vision of a world free from torture, violence and discrimination, which we work towards realizing, through our continued work in promoting and safeguarding the rights of all against torture and ill treatment, by holding the state accountable.

Media and Human Rights

The role of media in protection of human rights and promotion of access to justice cannot be ignored nor minimized. Media is communicator of the public. The media has become interested not only in reporting violations of human rights, but in the institutional apparatus that has been designed to promote and protect the rights of all. Today, its role extends not only to giving facts as news, it also analyses and comments on the facts and thus shapes the views of the people. The positive impact of media on society towards this end is, today, beyond doubt and debate. The media has been setting for the nation its social, political, economic, human rights and even cultural agenda.

IMLU recognizes the important role played by reporters, columnists, correspondents, editors and other media practitioners who work to sensitize the public on human rights and thus putting the issues of access to justice on the radar of public debate in the country.

Our Engagement with the Media

Over the years we have strived to enhance our strategic engagements with media practitioners. As part of our strategy to strengthen our networks, we intend to hold a two-day training forum tentatively scheduled for 10th to 12th October 2018, with the main objective of sensitizing media practitioners on effective reporting on torture, violence and discrimination and related human rights violations. Through this sensitization forum we seek to increase the number of our network journalists and media practitioners who have resolved to join our quest for ‘A World Free from Torture, Violence and Discrimination’.

Who is Eligible?

We are looking for journalists and media practitioners who:

1. Are passionate about torture, violence and discrimination and human rights reporting and have been involved in human rights advocacy in the course of their work
2. Are passionate about media activism in addressing torture and human rights violations in the country
3. Have experience, are passionate, and are interested in investigative journalism on human rights violations
4. Are passionate about building alliances and partnerships in addressing torture, violence and discrimination and human rights issues in the country
5. Are interested in working to assist victims of torture, violence and discrimination and human rights violations access justice
6. Share in our vision of ‘A World free From Torture, Violence and Discrimination’
7. Embrace the values of integrity, empowerment, courage and compassion

If you are interested in being part of this engagement, please send us your CV, a 300-word brief on your interest to participate in this very important initiative, and commitment to work with IMLU after the training, by close of business Wednesday, 3rd October 2018 to sbiko@imlu.org and a copy to ctunnen@imlu.org with the subject as ‘IMLU JOURNALSTS NETWORK FORUM’. We look forward to working with you towards ‘A just World free From Torture, Violence and Discrimination’

For additional information please contact us via phone number +254 724 256 800 or +254 712 876 573.