User:Rightsjournalists/Human Rights in Tanzania

Journalists for Human Rights in Tanzania

Journalists for Human Rights known by its acronym as JournoRights is the first and the only journalists’ human rights advocacy organisation in United Republic of Tanzania. JournoRights is dedicated to harness the power of the media to protect human rights.

JournoRights was registered according to the laws of United Republic of Tanzania on March 25th 2007 as a non –profit making company without a share capital, under cap. 212 of the Companies Act 2002 (R.E.) Its registration number 59765.

Before March 25th 2007, JournoRights had lived in the minds and hearts of several journalists from June 2006 when reporters and editors were convened by the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) www.humanrights.or.tz to ponder their role in human rights promotion. The journalists had resolved to found an organisation of their own that would habour a human rights agenda. With relentless efforts of several journalists coupled with material and moral support from LHRC, JournoRights became a reality.

The human rights organisation was officially launched by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the United Republic of Tanzania Hon Samuel Sitta on June 25th 2007 at the Parliament grounds in the country’s capital of Dodoma during Civil Societies Organisations (CSO) Exhibitions, which was sponsored by the Foundation for Civil Society www.thefoundation-tz.org.

JournoRights works to mobilise and empower those journalists who have the passion to serve their communities so that they can create awareness needed to the disadvantaged people and help them stand up for their rights.

JournoRights Vision

JournoRights envisages an enlightened society whose people are well-informed, awakened and ready to defend their rights. It also envisions human rights-driven media which do not only inform its publics, but also empower them to communicate their minds and concern to the policy makers.

JournoRights Mission

JournoRights works with and for the people whose voices are not heard and are not aware of their rights. It works to build capacity of the media to understand and take up human rights issues, empower the downtrodden and the oppressed, giving them the right information about their rights and help them to communicate their concern and ideas to the decision makers.

JournoRights Values

The core value of JournoRights is ‘Volunteerism and Activism’, hence the organisation works with people, mainly journalists, who are troubled by the abuse of human rights and have the audacity of taking action.

JournoRights Motto

Our motto – Fiat Lux, which is Latin for ‘Let There Be Light’ reflects JournoRights’ burning passion for the need of having all mankind enlightened on their rights and empowered to stand for them.

JournoRights Philosophy

Media development — and in particular enlightened journalists- is a necessary and vital component of country’s development efforts. Without a thriving local journalism sector, there can be no effective means of communication between citizens and their governments. Good governance and respect for human rights depends on effective media that has the ability to create and inspire real change.

JournoRights Approach

JournoRights believes that creating rights awareness is the first and most necessary step to ending rights abuses, hence it put a great emphasis to it. By mobilising the media to spread human rights agenda, JournoRights informs people about human rights and empowers marginalised communities to stand up, speak out and protect themselves.

Management

JournoRights is managed by Executive Director Christopher Kidanka, who is its founding member, practicing journalists and human rights activist. The organisation is also governed by a Board of Directors which is constituted by respected people from various walks of life, with different expertise and background. The Board members are appointed by Annual General Meeting.