Mr. Hydara was speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa, during a lecture at the 11th Carlos Cardoso Memorial 2022 on the theme: ‘Fighting to end Impunity for Crimes against Journalists'.
Carlos Alberto Lopes Cardoso, known as Carlos Cardoso was a journalist born in Mozambique from Portuguese parents. His murder in 2000 followed his newspaper's investigation into corruption in the privatisation of Mozambique's biggest bank.
In addition to financial and other constraints facing the media, he explained that Gambian journalists and their media houses still face threats and as a result, they are compelled to resort to self-censorship. He added that they are constantly faced with intimidation, job insecurity and political threats as well as social and economic threats.
“As a result of these constant threats facing Gambian journalists, The Gambia Press Union (GPU) in November 2021, held a National Forum on the Safety of Journalists. The forum brought together journalists to discuss their safety concerns and the improvements that were needed to enhance the effectiveness of the media in holding governments to account.”
Since 2019, he continued that the GPU has made significant efforts to improve the safety of journalists in preparation for the December 2021 presidential elections while adding that the Union, with the help of an international safety trainer,' held training sessions for 12 'safety trainers' who in turn had been conducting safety training for journalists covering protests and political events.
Hydara continued that subsequently, the GPU managed to train at least 60 journalists from the print, electronic and online media on safety, security and conflict-sensitive reporting during elections through funding from the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX).
“The Gambia today assaults on Journalists still persist. The GPU has registered more than 13 assaults on Journalists since the new government came into power in 2017. These assaults were mainly perpetrated by politicians and their supporters from both the ruling and opposition parties and also from the security apparatus. Unfortunately, none of these perpetrators was brought to book.”
Mr. Hydara further reiterated that during the commemoration of this year’s International Day to End Impunity, for crimes against Journalists, they call for global action against all perpetrators who are found guilty to face the full force of the law, as crimes committed against journalists continues to be a threat to Freedom of Expression.
“I would like to extend my profound gratitude to Wits University, and to The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) not only for choosing me as a keynote speaker for an icon like Carlos Cardoso but for the ongoing support you continue to show to victims and their families.”
