The Wayamo Foundation held a three-day workshop in Nairobi between 25-27 November 2024 on responsible media reporting of justice and accountability processes in and for Sudan.
This workshop brought together Sudanese journalists for training on reporting during times of armed conflict, trauma sensitive interview techniques, and reporting on the International Criminal Court anticipating the conclusion of the prosecution and defence arguments in the trial of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb“) taking place in December 2024.
The training spanned three days and included both group sessions and practical break-out sessions, as well as an interview session with the spokesperson of the International Criminal Court.
Wayamo’s Legal and Research Officer Abdalbasit Mohamed began the first day of the workshop with an update on the legal situation in Sudan.
His session was followed by Mikel Delagrange, Wayamo’s Senior International Legal Advisor, who discussed how lawyers at international tribunals use journalistic reports and journalists to contribute to accountability processes, focusing on how reports are used prove perpetrators’ knowledge in sexual violence and torture cases in particular.
Wayamo’s in-house reporters, Digital Programmes Manager Kris Kotarski and Coordinator for East Africa Judie Kaberia drew on their years of experience covering the International Criminal Court and other tribunals to conclude the first day with a session on reporting effectively on judicial proceedings.
On the second day, Wayamo drew on its expert network to lead the workshop sessions, with Marine Alneel, Executive Director Afia for Community and Psychological Wellness Services and Studies, leading practical role plays on trauma informed interview techniques.
Her sessions were followed by presentations from the International Criminal Court with Greta Barbone, Outreach Policy Officer, Public Information and Outreach Section and Amina Hamila, Associate Outreach Officer, discussing the background of the court, the “Ali Kushayb” case where closing statements will take place on 11-13 December 2024
This was followed by a press conference with Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of the Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court who answered journalists’ questions about the court on the record.
The final day of the conflict focused on modern storytelling for justice, with Wayamo’s Kris Kotarski contributing a session on responsibly presenting interviews with victims of violence, before Wayamo’s Africa Director Joseph Roberts-Mensah and his colleagues led the trainees through a practical story workshop, drafting story outlines and providing peer feedback.
The Wayamo Foundation has organised media workshops for Sudanese journalists (including those documenting the conflict) with the objective of strengthening reporting skills and building their knowledge about critical justice-related issues within the framework of its “Capacity building for civil society and the justice sector in Sudan” project. Well-trained journalists and informed citizens are able to take a fuller participatory role in their countries’ democratic processes are key to enhancing local ownership of justice and accountability.
