Digital Champion Sensitises NAWOJ Members on Right, Safety, Privacy
Gombe State members of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), have received a step down training on digital right, safety and privacy.
The step down training followed a workshop attended by a member of NAWOJ, Rebecca Caleb Maina, organised by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), supported by Association for Progressive Communications (APC), held in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria in October 2022.
Declaring the step down training open at the news room of Gombe Media Corporation (GMC), the state council Chairperson of NAWOJ Talatu Lamon, said the training would enhance capacity of members on how to be safe online in the face of increasing electronic surveillance.
Lamon, described the training as timely adding that it would enhance media work in Gombe State and beyond, calling on the members to be professional in the discharge of their duties as members of the fourth estate of the realm.
Facilitator of the training and a digital champion Rebecca Caleb Maina, said Digital Rights are those human and legal rights that allow individuals to access, use, create and publish digital media or to access and use computers,other electronic devices and telecommunications Network.
“The concept is particularly related to the protection and realisation of existing rights,such as the right to privacy and freedom of expression,in the context of digital technologies, especially the internet,” Maina added.
She said the internet should be accessable, affordable and that people should have freedom of expression online and right to privacy as well.
Speaking on gender violence as digital rights abuse, Maina said directly or indirectly , everyday, every hour and seconds, women across the globe are accessing and making use of the internet and online harassment and cyber bullying are real and happening day in, day out especially to women.
She said, “A woman’s inability to feel safe online is a great barrier to her freedom as well as to her basic human rights.The problem of online violence and harassment is often overlooked in discussions of violence against women.”
Maina noted that research has proven that the worst online harassment included, “attacks, name calling to include stalking, and that sexual harassment are extremely targeted at women and the harassment can happen to any woman as far as she is online using the internet for any reason.”
The Facilitator said addressing online violence would require collective efforts from individuals, Corporation and Government, hence as women Journalists they should join the demand for a better internet where their voices can be heard free from violence.
She advised the Women Journalists to separate their work from their personal life on social media accounts, protect their accounts from being hacked by using a password manager to create a long unique passwords.
Commenting on the forth coming general elections, Maina advised members not to be quick in posting unverified results on social media but abide by the code, ethics and electoral laws.
“People have confidence and trust in you.They see you as an authority therefore ensure to verify results from INEC before airing or publishing,” Maina advised.
In an address, Secretary of the Association Abigail Kolo Ayuba highlighted the achievements recorded by NAWOJ to include giving voice to the vulnerable groups, “NAWOJ has also agitated for the passage of the child protection law and violence against persons prohibition law which the house of assembly passed recently,” Ayuba said.
She appreciated the facilitator of the step down training, adding that members have acquired more knowledge on digital rights.
Expressing their happiness on the step down training, some members interviewed to include Zarah Umar, Asanath Silas Paris and Hauwa Abubakar, all affirmed that social media is good but should be handled with caution and safety.
They said the step down training has built their capacity as journalists especially on their rights, and safety while online.
The disclosed that they gained new knowledge and would share it with others, in order to utilise the lessons learnt for their own good and that of the society especially now that the 2023 General election is fast approaching.
Participants at the step down included members from the Gombe Media Corporation (GMC), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Ministry of Information Gombe State.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the Step down training was interactive and practical, as participants shared their online experiences, asked questions and solicited for more of such trainings.
