Journalists for Human Rights.
PRESS RELEASE.
Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) is pleased to announce the commencement of full scale operations in Sierra Leone as of April 2007. As well as establishing an office at 47 John Street, Central Freetown, JHR has appointed Elvis Gbanabom Hallowell, a respected writer and activist, to serve as Country Director.
Among his accomplishments, Elvis Gbanabom Hallowell(photo) is a recipient of the 2006 Young Global Leadership Award (YGL) from the World Economic Forum (WEF) recognizing his role as a human rights activist in the Sierra Leone civil conflict. Hallowell has also taught university courses in writing, literature and culture in the United States. “We’re excited to have Elvis heading up our operations in Sierra Leone,” said JHR’s International Programs Director, Nikki Whaites. “He brings a lot of energy, experience and enthusiasm to the position.” He can be contacted at freetown@jhr.ca or 232-(0)76-410-623.
Over the past five years, JHR has been operating in fourteen (14) African countries. JHR is a growing charitable organization that harnesses the power of the media to combat human rights abuses. By building the capacity of the media to report effectively on human rights issues, JHR’s work pressures abusers to stop and empowers victims to fight back.
In Sierra Leone, JHR will be providing free training for five years to practicing journalists on human rights reporting. Training will include formal and informal workshops, daily on-the-job training, lectures at post-secondary institutions, reward sponsorship and other training as requested by local journalists. In addition, JHR will partner with local organizations like the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Mass Media Communications Department at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone among other organizations, to strengthen the media.
For further information regarding the work of JHR in Sierra Leone and other countries, please visit our website at www.jhr.ca.
Ben Peterson
Executive Director
Nikki Whaites
International Programs Director
Comments