The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Yaounde joined UNESCO and the Ministry of Communication to commemorate the 2013 World Press Freedom Day in an official event organized to mark the Day in Yaounde, on 3 May.

An exposition by media organs in the country, organized on the esplanade of the Ministry of Communication brought together media practitioners, and other actors in the domain, as well as Government  and the UN Officials.

An exhibition by UNIC Yaounde alongside national media organs was the main highlight of the event. UNIC prepared press kits comprised of UN Basic documents, the UN Secretary-General’s message for the Day, the UN Secretary-General/UNESCO joint Statement and other background information on the history of the commemoration, which were distributed to participants at the event. A guided tour of the stands by the Minister and his entourage was one of the highlights of the ceremony, as they had the opportunity to appreciate the rich diversity and dynamism of the Cameroon media landscape, through the different publications and reports displayed by these organs .

Theoccasion was graced by an animation by the CRTV Orchestra, and the speeches were punctuated by musical interludes in an event, which witnessed a huge attendance of Journalists.

UNIC Antananarivo and UNESCO, in partnership with the Media in Action and for Training (MAF) and the International Organization of the Francophony (OIF), celebrated Press Freedom Day under the theme “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media” for two days at Antsirabe.

On 2 May, a workshop on the topic “The media’s freedom of expression, deontology and ethics of the journalist during the elections” was conducted for 24 journalists and students studying journalism, at ESSVA Antsirabe school. Issues raised included the exactitude of fact reporting (facts are sacred, comments are free), the public’s right to information, and impartiality concerning the candidates.

The following day, there was a ceremony held at Hotel Flower Palace Antsirabe, which included official speeches by the MAF President and representatives from OIF, the Independent National Electoral Commission of the Transition (CENI-T) and the UN.

At the end of the event, there was a reading and signing of the “Chart of Journalists” written by journalists from the Vakinankaratra region. The key points highlighted in the Chart include: the balance of information without discrimination and distinction, the agreement of press publishers on freedom of expression, the agreement on the regulation against the violations of electoral laws and codes, the truth, balance and respect of the person of the candidate, the agreement against corruption, the agreement on the general interest of the information without an attempt of debate, the work of the organizations (UNDP, CENI-T, UN System and OIF).

On 2 May, UNIC Antananarivo in partnership with CEDS - Strategic and Diplomatic Studies Center, and UNDP, organized a conference on Peacekeeping. The UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) in Madagascar made a presentation on the topic, which was followed by a discussion.  A short documentary film on women participation in Peacekeeping Operations entitled “Les femmes dans le maintien de la paix : une force pour la paix” was then screened. According to the film, women peacekeepers constitute 8% of police and 2% of military forces. The film follows their intervention in Liberia, Congo and Haiti.

In her speech, the UNRC introduced the audience to the current UN Peacekeeping missions, mandates, personnel, their funding and factors used to consider a mission successful. The presentation also discussed the roles of the Security Council, the UN Secretary-General and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

The audience  then raised issues such as the amendment of the Security Council including questions about permanent membership, the use of the veto power, and extension of a country's term in the Council. Other questions included Peacekeepers’ utilization of local resources (water, lodging, food), the amendment of the UN Chart to comply with globalization requirements, the inclusion of Malagasy militaries in the peacekeepers, and the extension of Security Council membership.

The UNRC ended the discussion with a peace message to the Malagasy people saying that they have many more things that unite them – language, religion, convictions – than separate them. 

On 30 April, UNIC Ankara, as the chair of the United Nations Communication Group in Turkey organized, an “Effective Communication and Advocacy Workshop” with the participation of British Council staff.
 
Last year, UN in Turkey signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate with the British Council in Turkey to promote awareness on issues that are common on the agenda of both of the Organizations.
 
At the workshop, UN and British Council staff shared their experience of how to make web sites more effective, successful social media campaigns and power of visual material in disseminating messages.
 
Social media are the tools young people use to communicate mostly in Turkey. That is why the UN agencies attach special importance to making the best use them.
 
All the participants expressed their satisfaction with the workshop and voiced their hope that similar activities will follow.
 
Every year, UNIC Ankara organizes at least two workshops to enhance the communications skills of UN staff in Turkey. This year’s second workshop will be on effective presentation skills and will take place in November.
 
UNIC Ankara also seeks to invite staff of UN partners in Turkey to such events to deepen the cooperation with those organizations.