SOMA organizes and conducts a review meeting on promoting the Media Safety Protocol Document

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Mogadishu | QOL | 22 March, 2018 – The Somali Media Association (SOMA) has organized and conducted one-day review meeting on promoting the Somalia Media Safety Protocol Document at the conference hall of the Somali South Central Non State Actors (SOSCENSA) main office in Mogadishu, Somalia.

The review meeting has been convened on Thursday, March 22, 2018.
The main participants of the meeting were: Directors of media houses in Mogadishu, IMS/FOJO Program Coordinator, Safety Unit Coordinator, NUSOJ, Members of Mogadishu Newspapers Association , SOSCENSA and veteran of Somali media.

The meeting was aimed to provide platform for the various sectors of the stakeholders of the media in Somalia to revise and contribute their input to the Somalia media safety protocol document before being finalized for adaptation by all the Somalia media.

In his opening remark, Mr. Mohamed Abduwahab, the Deputy Chairman/Acting Secretary General of SOMA has appreciated SOSCENSA for hosting the important meeting and explained the background and the significance of the 12 Principles of the Safety and Security Protocol document for the media houses and journalists in Somalia.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Mr. Mustafa Yasin Sheikh, Head of Advocacy of SOSCENSA has expressed pleasure to host the review meeting and as civil society take major role in supporting development issues of the Somali media. He mentioned that SOSCENSA has employed a communication officer to liaise with the media sector.

During the meeting, all the participants had the opportunity and time to revise each of the 12 principles of the Safety Protocol document translated from English version to Somali language, and then contribute significant input, change and correction where necessary to improve the document.
All the suggested input, change and corrections were immediately incorporated in the Safety Protocol document under the review process.

In conclusion, all the participants have well received the scheme for establishing Safety Protocol document.

The participants have also appreciated SOMA in partnership with IMS/FOJO for this initiative which they said will eventually take major role in further improving the safety and security for the Somali media houses and journalists .

The participants were informed that a launching event for the safety protocol document will be conducted in due course to jointly sign the document by all media houses.

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SOMA is an association under which at least 40 media based in Puntland, Galmudug , Hirshabelle, Banadir Jubbaland and South West of Somalia are united