LHRC trains media on human rights

By: Unknown on 1:05 AM

Advocate Harold Sungusia

Members of the public should shun taking the law into their own hands because mob violence is evil, the Director of Advocacy and Reforms at the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) said here over the weekend.

Advocate Harold Sungusia made the remark during a presentation on human rights during training for members of the press on the subject in Dar es Salaam, and called on journalists to educate the public to shun away from violence.

Observing that it is a fundamental breach of rule of law, Sungusia said: “Mob violence makes all of us unsafe because it gives room for one to become a complainant, a police officer, an investigator, a judge and a prison officer all at once.

“People are sentenced to death by the very single person they rob or commit an offence against.  This is unacceptable,” he added.

According to him mob violence is an accumulation of anger and called on journalists to help save the community from it.  “If not you, another person or even a relative yours will suffer.  This may in turn create a violent society,” cautioned Sungusia.

For her part, Advocate Imelda Urrio who is the Director of Empowerment and Accountability at the LHRC said the press should focus more on human interest stories. “Balance your story with authorities responsible and ensure that it is as transparent as possible,” said Urrio.

Felista Mauya who heads the Mass Education Unit and Paralegals at the LHRC said the training was aimed at enabling journalists to help the community, expressing hopes that “they will from now on report with humane eye.”

In an immediate rejoinder, a journalist from Channel 10, Mosses Masenga, said the training was an eye opener after they learnt how to report news without violating the rights of other people.

The one-day training - organized by the LHRC and attended by 30 journalists from the print, electronic and social media - was expected to educate the public on human rights. It dwelt on human rights, the proposed Constitution and the Referendum Act.