Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, is Friday holding a Capacity Building Trainings for Editors and Electoral Officials in Lagos.
The one-day training is a collaborative effort between UNESCO and Agate Multimedia and Light-up Africa Development Initiative, aimed at guaranteeing free, plural, fair and credible election through fostering freedom of expression, press freedom and public access to information.
According to UNESCO, the training will reinforce the capacities of participants on international standards on freedom of expression and good practices to address the evils of disinformation and misinformation during elections.
Nigeria: Elections and Freedom of Expression in the Digital Era
As preparation for the 2023 General Elections picks up in the country, there will be a decisive test, considering the wave of issues in the past elections relating to freedom of expression, low women participation and mis/disinformation across the board.
In 2017, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) fined 23 radio and television stations across the country for hateful speech, vulgar lyrics, and unverifiable claims. In 2019, the same Commission had sanctioned 45 broadcast stations, including NTA, AIT, Channels and TVC News, for alleged ethical infractions to the 2019 general elections.
Therefore, towards its role to guaranteeing free, plural and fair elections in times of disinformation and peaceful society, UNESCO has identified the paramount role of editors, electoral officers and other key stakeholders to support the full, fair and efficient disclosure of information in covering elections and maintaining public order in times of elections while upholding the right to freedom of expression.
Building on past initiatives and working within the UN family as a member of the Inter-agency Coordination Mechanisms in Electoral Assistance (ICMEA), UNESCO aims to upscale its global reach on media and elections.
In collaboration with UNESCO, Agate Multimedia and Light-up Africa Development Initiative would like to invite you to A-1 day capacity building training organised by UNESCO Regional Office Abuja.
UNESCO has developed a comprehensive programme that aims to guarantee free, plural, and fair elections through fostering freedom of expression, including press freedom and public access to information.
The one day event is to reinforce the capacities of editors and electoral practitioners on international standards on freedom of expression and good practices to address disinformation and misinformation during elections.
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