West African Freedom of Expression Monitors Convene In Accra
Freedom of Expression monitors from the 15 ECOWAS member States are convening in Accra from May 22-24, 2013 for a training workshop on the methodology to be used in rating freedom of expression (FoE) conditions in their respective countries.
The training of the FoE monitors is part of activities under the West African Freedom of Expression Index project by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in partnership with the US-based Freedom House Inc, a freedom of expression (FoE) advocacy organisation. The Index, which will be produced on a biennial bases, beginning 2014, will rate all the 15 ECOWAS countries on conditions of FoE.
Earlier in the year (March 26 - 27, 2013), a group of media experts met in Accra to develop and adopt a suitable methodology for the Index. This three-day training is a follow-up to the experts' meeting and is being facilitated by media experts from West Africa and the US.
The training will introduce the monitors to the adopted methodology. Specifically, the training, which will involve practical sessions, will help the monitors to understand the data collection instrument that will be used in gathering data, the kind of information each set of questions seek to elicit, and how to score indicators for the overall ratings.
The West African Freedom of Expression Index is an initiative of the MFWA aimed at further creating awareness about freedom of expression situations in the region and to 'name and shame' countries with bad conditions. The Index will also provide evidence-based information for regional advocacy interventions for redress of FoE violations and reform of inimical media and FoE legislation to help entrench FoE in the democratisation processes of the various countries in the region.