REDHAC, partner drill journalists, CSOs on physical, digital security, fact-checking.

This was within a three-day regional workshop organised by the Network Central African Human Rights Defenders, known in its French acronym, REDHAC. It was co-organised in partnership with Open Society Foundations. 

Speaking on the rationale of the activity, the Co-Chair of the Board of REDHAC, Barrister Alice A. Nkom, noted that human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers, and civil society actors, are constantly faced with complex challenges, often amplified by security threats and the proliferation of false information. 

By combining these two areas of training, REDHAC had the intention to promote and consolidate an environment conducive to the action and deployment of civil  society, civic actors and human rights defenders, equipping participants to better protect themselves. 

"This training is aimed at equipping you to face these challenges and arm you with the skills to confidently continue your essential work," she told participants, while affirming that the outcome will have significant value to the daily work of participants.  

Participants were drilled on the various human rights conventions, which they can use to defend themselves in case of threats, the constitution and how to use credible sources in fact checking, amongst others. 

One of the key expectations of the training was the creation of a Civic Brigade to Fight Online Disinformation. The session facilitator, Paul-Joel Kamtchang, said, given the current context marked by upcoming elections in certain countries in the sub-region, notable Cameroon, there is a possibility of human rights violations, this giving rise pre and post-electoral crisis.

"It appears important to be better equipped to verify the veracity of the facts as well as the accuracy of the figures and data to be presented in the media and to partners in order to evaluate with objectivity the facts reported, which is why sessions on fact checking will always be vital," he said.   

Together, the participants laid the foundation for a strong, engaged network ready to defend the truth and combat the manipulation of information. 

One of them, Linda Mbiapa, a Douala-based journalist, in her remarks, said "the proliferation of false information and manipulated content online threatens freedom of expression and public debate”. 

She said as such, the creation of civic brigades to combat disinformation is necessary to promote the verification of information and the dissemination of responsible and inclusive discourse.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3255 of Thursday October 10, 2024