Bukavu, 12 December 2011 - To mark the International Human Rights Day, the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) met with local public and private media professionals in Sud-Kivu province on 9 December to exchange views on the issue of human rights. The theme debated during the exchanges was "Social Media and Human Rights." The event was organized by the Public Information Office of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in Bukavu, the provincial capital.

UNJHRO Coordinator, Souleymane Coulibaly, highlighted the importance of social networking in the area of human rights. "I call on media professionals to popularize the use of social network tools so the general population can take advantage, and start using them to promote human rights," Mr. Coulibaly said.

He took the opportunity to explain UNJHRO's mandate and some of its areas of intervention, including providing support to civil society stakeholders as well as to political and military officials; and supporting the country's Anti-Sexual Violence Strategy and Compensation projects for the Victims of Sexual Violence.

The keynote speaker informed the media professionals that UNJHRO has trained, in the course of 2011, more than 880 police officers, about 70 members of political parties, and 915 teachers in the area of human rights.

Tahina Andriamamonjitianasoa/ MONUSCO