Cameroon Journalists Trade Union, Northwest Region CJTU
The UN System in Cameroon has taken a step too Protect members of the Cameroon
Journarlists Trade Union, through its President Mr Bakah Derrick, by providing
the Union with Press Vest that will be used by Members while on the Field.
The Press Vest serve
as a strong identification tool for Journalists reporting within a conflict hit
Zone and also it benefits the Journalists within the Trade union, who in one
way or the other may have been restricted to have access to information that builds
their reports.
In the era of the
ongoing armed conflict plaguing the Northwest and Southwest Regions, most
reporters have been intimidated for not being in procession of their
identification documents, because most media houses have not issued press cards
as an instrument for back up whenever the need arise. Reporters will sometimes
face humiliation while on coverage or are not received when about to cover an
event.
President of CJTU Northwest Region, Mr Bakah Derrick
The President for the Cameroon Journalists Trade Union for
the Northwest Region, CJTU , Mr Bakah Derrick, urges all reporters within the
Northwest Region to belong to an association or Union to benefit from
protection and professional measures when having challenges in the profession.
He also appeals with those within the union to do all to fulfill the demands
warranting them to be full members of the union, in other to ease the full
process of individual files and easy intervention when need arise.
Members assembled themselves to receive their Press Jackets
and felt that the President could say a few words that will linger in their
minds whenever the team puts the vest on.
“Given the circumstances and the conflict that we find
ourselves, there is very strong need for identification of media organs and it
is therefore within the CJTU Policy to ensure that our members are identified,
particularly in times of crisis.” The President of the Union Noted.
“It is not a weapon to use for misconduct or to harass
people in the name of Journalism, it is a tool
handed to Journalist to do their work and for professional reasons.
Don’t be seen in very unprofessional environments with this vest on, we are
called to give it the importance for proper usage and for continues respect for
the core values of the Profession that we practice. Refrain from the use of
hatespeech and declarations that injure women or girls, which are some of the
basic rules that CJTU stand by and consider the vest as a special tool for
those reporting within the Northwest Region” he added.
In addition to the advice given to members of the Trade
Union, he goes ahead to appeal to armed groups and state actors to accept the
vest as identification for media organs in the Northwest Region, particularly
for members of the Trade Union and encouraged those who are not yet members to
regularize their situation, because the union is committed to defend the
interest of its members.
Tags:
News