Human Rights

African Journalists’ Study Tour at the UN

Journalists from Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe participated in a five-day study tour organized by the FNF Human Rights Hub in Geneva. The program gave them first-hand exposure to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) and opportunities to engage with global leaders working on some of the world’s most pressing human rights concerns.

While African journalists grapple daily with documenting violations in their countries, the tour underscored an important truth: human rights violations are a global challenge. The program provided a platform to connect local realities with international mechanisms.

The group attended the 60th session of the Human Rights Council, witnessing deliberations that shape the global agenda, including reports from their own countries. They also took part in briefings with senior UN officials and leading human rights organizations, gaining insights into how international systems work and how journalists can engage with them effectively.

The journalists met H.E. Jürg Lauber, President of the Human Rights Council and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to UN in Geneva, who shared a high-level perspective on the Council’s priorities.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at the Palais Wilson and discuss the challenges they are facing in reporting on human rights issues in their respective countries. He emphasized the importance of journalists in the system and encouraged the group to work together with OHCHR offices in their region.

They exchanged insights with Kathrin Hondl, ARD Correspondent and Director Geneva Office, who shared perspectives on global media coverage of human rights, offering a comparative view of how rights issues are reported beyond Africa

A highlight of the week was the session with Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, who emphasized the vital role of press freedom in defending democracy and protecting journalists. The journalists also engaged with the Global Survivors Fund, the International Service for Human Rights, and UPR Info, broadening their networks and understanding of the global human rights ecosystem.

The study tour was a reminder that journalists play a critical role in connecting local struggles to global accountability mechanisms. Whether reporting on freedom of expression, discrimination, or the right to assembly and association, they have the power to draw international attention to issues that might otherwise remain invisible.

For the participating journalists, Geneva was not just a learning experience. It was a call to action. It reinforced the responsibility of the media to highlight violations, tell the stories of survivors, and ensure that human rights are seen as a shared global concern.