Yaounde: Avocats Sans Frontières France trains journalists on ethical coverage of legal issues.

It was organised under the Support Project for Human Rights-Based Prison Governance in Cameroon, known by its French acronym PAGOC. 

The training came ahead of a national colloquium on alternative penalties scheduled for September 23. It brought together journalists, reporters, editors, programme presenters and other media professionals involved in producing public-interest content.

Participants were trained to use appropriate legal terminology, verify information and protect the dignity and privacy of people in detention. 

The sessions also focused on avoiding stigmatising language, protecting identities and exercising caution when reporting allegations. The journalists reviewed previous media reports, identified problematic expressions and practised rewriting headlines and paragraphs. 

They also took part in interview simulations and exercises on gathering sensitive information without exposing sources or detainees to reprisals.

Speaking during the workshop, ASF France Country Representative, Barrister Dr Dacga Djatche Sandrine Bergeline, said journalists were central to efforts to promote alternative penalties and improve prison governance.

She explained that Cameroon’s revised Penal Code introduced community service and reparation penalties in 2016, notably under Sections 18 and 26. 

She added that their implementation has been hindered by the absence of a specific legal instrument defining how magistrates should apply them.

“Alternative penalties can help to resocialise offenders and reduce congestion in prisons. They allow a person to serve an educational sentence without being completely separated from society, family or professional life. Punishment should not only be punitive; it should also support rehabilitation. We are therefore calling on journalists to provide more information about these penalties and explain why they are necessary,” Barrister Dacga said.

She specified that the penalties would apply to selected offences punishable by less than two years in prison. They would not cover crimes such as murder, sexual offences, weapons-related offences or attacks on physical integrity, the Barrister added.

According to Barrister Dacga, many prisons in Cameroon are overcrowded, while a significant proportion of inmates are being held in pre-trial detention. She said some detainees wait for trial over minor offences carrying sentences shorter than the time they may spend in custody.

Media urged to protect vulnerable persons

Journalist and trainer, Guy Zogo, told participants that accurate reporting could help the public and decision-makers better understand alternative sentencing. He also highlighted impartiality, respect for interviewees and the need to minimise possible harm.

“Journalists must assess risks and avoid exposing anyone to possible reprisals. They should also guard against manipulation, especially when covering judicial proceedings marked by accusations and counter-accusations,” Zogo said.

He stated that although alternative penalties have existed in Cameroon’s Penal Code for about a decade, they are rarely mentioned during court proceedings because the required implementation text remains unavailable.

On her part, media participant, Faith Ngwang said the training had improved journalists’ understanding of judicial vocabulary and would help them report legal matters more objectively. 

She added that using the wrong terminology could misinform the public, even when the journalist believed the expression was appropriate.

The PAGOC initiative is implemented by Avocats Sans Frontières France in partnership with the Cameroon Human Rights Organisations Network, RECODH, and the Central African Human Rights Defenders Network, REDHAC. 

It combines legal assistance, training and advocacy aimed at protecting the rights of people deprived of their liberty and supporting their reintegration into society.


This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3909 of Monday September 14, 2026