46 journalists from the print media and those of the audiovisual and on-line outlets from the territories of Fizi, Walungu and Uvira in the South-Kivu province including 11 women as well as media professionals from FARDC and PNC media professionals attended two-day discussions about media coverage and journalists’ protection during the electoral process, held in Uvira on 21 - 22 June. The workshop was organized by media synergy in Uvira and Fizi with support from MONUSCO/Uvira public information office; the following items were addressed by the workshop:

• The different phases of the DRC’s electoral process, ranging from the registration to the polling given by the representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC,
• Journalists’ protection and press offence given by Uvira prosecutor,
• Monitoring of the public protests and maintenance of public order and peace during the electoral period by UN Joint Human Rights Office,
• Physical, social and professional protection of journalists during the electoral period by Media outlets synergy coordinator in Uvira, Fizi, SYMUF.

Earlier, journalists were given a presentation about MONUSCO’s current mandate in light of the UN Security Council Resolution 2409, especially regarding two pillars: civilians’ protection and monitoring the implementation of the 31 December 2016 agreement and the electoral process with the help of the international community.

During discussions, journalists expressed their concern over the reduction of the resources for MONUSCO and wondered how the Mission would cope with civilians’ protection and will support the electoral process.

Responding to the journalists’ concerns, Jean-Tobi Okala, representing MONUSCO’s Strategic Communication and Public Information Division stated that the Mission will abide by the UNSC Resolution 2409 which clearly sets out its role, recalling that DRC is a sovereign state and MONUSCO is here upon government’s invitation to support the peace process; He warned the journalists against focusing on the sensational type of stories that have nothing to do with the news as expected by the population for their education.

At the end of the workshop, participants received certificates for attendance and voiced their hope to see more training sessions to be organized for a larger number of journalists with relevant thematic as those addressed by the workshop to enable them to share their experience