The East Africa Community has unveiled The East Africa Press Councils In a move aimed at promoting and safeguarding free, independent, and professional media in East Africa.
The East African Community Secretary General, Dr. Peter Mathuki, unveiled the East Africa Press Councils (EAPC) as an umbrella body meant to bring together media regulatory authorities from the East African Community (EAC) Partner States.
The primary objective of the EAPC is to ensure the protection and promotion of a vibrant and responsible media landscape across the East African region.
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Dr. Irene Isaka, the Director of Social Sectors at the EAC Secretariat, expressed optimism about the establishment of the EAPC and its potential to bolster democratic principles, social justice, and human rights within the region. Underscoring the pivotal role of free and professional journalism in sustaining a thriving democracy and upholding the rights of all members of society.
Dr. Mathuki further emphasized, “A vibrant media is essential for the attainment of social justice, rule of law, accountability, equality, and protection of human and people’s rights. The wider society loses out when media cannot do its work independently and professionally as channels of free expression are strangled and public interest information is stifled, including through deterioration of investigative journalism.”
He also stressed the critical role of media in the East African integration process in conveying the message of integration to grassroots communities, the true owners of the whole project.
While highlighting the need for media stakeholders to fully understand the integration process and effectively communicate it to the public.
Dr. Mathuki also disclosed plans for media training on EAC integration to improve the understanding of this complex process and build the capacity of journalists to report on it objectively and accurately.
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Kajubi Mukajanga, the Chairperson of the EAPC and Executive Director of the Media Council of Tanzania, outlined the EAPC’s goals, which include strengthening and promoting independent media regulatory bodies in East Africa and encouraging the concept of self-regulation through Press/Media Councils to hold the media accountable while fostering media pluralism and diversity.
The launch ceremony took place at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
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