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BACKGROUND: In a post-conflict dispensation, the media can
define the political atmosphere where peace consolidation takes place and may
influence the behaviours of stakeholders of a conflict. The media can also
buttress or weaken the process of peace consolidation (Sanjana 2002). In
context of a fragile state like Sierra Leone, the existence of an effective
media landscape can contribute to the management of factors that gave rise to
the past brutal civil war in order to prevent another outbreak. These visible
factors are poverty, youth unemployment, regionalism, ethnicity,
marginalisation and mismanagement of resources.
In the last five years what Sierra Leone has witnessed is a proliferation of
mass media institutions that has made it possible to link grassroots
communities and governance. Yet, even with these useful media endeavours they
still operate under repressive seditious libel laws which criminalised
publications that are unfriendly to government. As a result media
practitioners are prosecuted and sentenced for publishing information against
government or any of its officials. Hence, tensions abound between the media
and the state on the repeal of such laws.
Also, in a bid to propagate partisan objectives, political parties have
established radio and press houses. Even though this development is
conterminous with the exercise of fundamental right of free expression the
impact of such development has been a divisive one. The media landscape
continues to be utilized by ardent supporter of political parities, to
undertake dangerous campaigns, ethnic and regional incitements, fermenting
several confrontations among supporters of the political divide across the
country.
Moreover, continuous protestations by opposition parties to operate their
media outlet (after being banned) has received resistance by the ruling party
which have unlimited access to state-run media. However, with a government
controlled media, the effective participation of other political parties in
the media is at risk and this is inimical to peace consolidation.
Thus, the existing complexities of the media landscape brings to light many
important issues such as: has the media been useful in the process of
consolidating peace in Sierra Leone? Does the current State of the media
positively contribute towards peace consolidation or does it hinder
development in that regard? How can current media interest be reconciled with
the interest of peace consolidation? Also, it is important to examine ways of
enhancing an effective media landscape in Sierra Leone under the current
circumstance.
OBJECTIVES: The research will be undertaken to identify threats
to free media and free expression in Sierra Leone and the consequences this
has on peace consolidation. It is also undertaken to examine the risk posed by
political media on present peace consolidation efforts. This piece is an
attempt to redefine the role of the media in the present dispensation of peace
consolidation.
RESEARCH RELEVANCE: This research relates to the media's role in
peace consolidation. It will shed light on the significance of media
protection and free speech in a post-war society in the context of partisan
politics and peace consolidation efforts. Also, this research contributes
towards building upon existing thinking and strategies in reconciling rights
demand of free media and free speech and that of protecting gains in peace
consolidation efforts in a politically charged environment. With no attempt
made to examine the media landscape and its impact on peace consolidation in
Sierra Leone this research will add value to understanding of the current
position and what needs to be done.
OUTPUT: Research team will limit the analysis of this study to
about forty pages. This research will thereby produce two pronged analysis:
achieving a free media and the protection of free speech in peace
consolidation era, and enhancing the role the media can play towards attaining
successful peace consolidation in Sierra Leone. This research exercise will
produce a more comprehensive product that suites both academic and
non-academic users.
IMPACT OF RESEARCH: This research will create an eye opener to
policy practitioners on media issues that may affect successful peace
consolidation in Sierra Leone. It will further drive intervention into vitals
media areas that will further strengthen the peace which Sierra Lone has
achieved. Various facets of the society become aware about what needs to be
done in curbing potential issues in the media landscape that may undermine the
relative peace Sierra Leone now enjoys.
STRUCTURE: This piece will be divided into four parts. Part 1
deals with the historical and normative development of the media and free
expression in Sierra Leone and the impact of such development on the conflict
in Sierra Leone. Part 2 focuses on the relationship between the media and the
state after the civil war. Part 3 deals with negative impacts of free media
and free expression on peace consolidation in Sierra Leone. Part 4 deals with
strategies in redefining the media landscape in achieving sustainable peace
and stability in Sierra Leone. It also deals with ways of curbing the present
risk posed by the media.
METHODOLOGY: This research will be carried out through desk based
work by sourcing relevant material via online libraries, journals and lectures
on the media in peace building. It will also include field research through
administering questioners targeting media practitioners, academics, peace
building institutions, human rights bodies, lawyers, judges, human rights
practitioners and students across universities in Sierra Leone
Focus group discussion will also be held attracting academics and policy
practitioners on topics relating to the right to free media and free
expression and the role of these institutions can play in peace consolidation
efforts. Issues raised in such sessions will form part of the analysis. It
will also include administering questionnaire, nationwide consultation with
stakeholders in the media and in local and national governance.
RESEARCH TEAM: A research team of four has been created. This
team is headed by the Director of the Center for Human Rights.
Ibrahim Badamasi Kamara is the Director of the Center for Human Rights.
He graduated in 2005 with Bachelor Laws Honors (LLB Hons) from Fourah Bay
College, the University of Sierra Leone. In 2007 he won an Open Society
Justice Initiative Fellowship and graduated in 2008 with a Masters of Laws in
Human Rights Law from Central European University. He has worked with UN
backed Special Court for Sierra Leone where he undertook many research
projects on human rights and Fair trial right of accused persons. In 2007 he
was appointed Legal and Research officer at the Lawyers Center for Legal
Assistance He has also participated in many international conferences and
delivered research papers on issues boarding human rights and transitional
justice.
Nancy Koroma: Graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Bsc) in Peace and
Conflict Studies from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone in 2008.
She work with the Sierra Leone Court Monitoring Group between 2004 and 2006 as
Research Officer, and with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2007 as
Research officer. She is currently the Deputy Director of the Center for Human
Rights. She has led many of CFHR's Research Consultancies on women rights,
gender based violence and peace building.
Patrick George: Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Fourah Bay
College, University of Sierra Leone in 2000. He owns a Bachelor of Laws Honors
degree in 2004. In 2007 he graduated with a Master of Laws (LLM) from Pretoria
University. He also owns an MPhill. He is currently a lecturer at Fourah Bay
College, University of Sierra Leone. He has worked with the Center for Human
Rights on Research project on human rights, rule of law and good governance.
Abdul Kposowa: Holds a Bachelor Degree with Honors from Fourah Bay
College, University of Sierra Leone. Before graduating as one of the first
crop of Mass Communication graduate, he pursued a certificate in Journalism
and a Diploma in Mass Communication in 1994 and 1998 academic years
respectively. He has worked with several newspapers and publishing houses in
Sierra Leone including the "Liberty Voice", The Chronicle, Unity Now and the
Standard Times.
In addition, two interns from the Peace and Conflict Studies Department and
the Department of Mass Communication will be involved in collection of
information and other duties assigned by research team.
TIME LINE: This research will commence on 1st of March, 2010 and
ends on the 1st of July, 2010. Distribution of research product will commence
on the 1st of August, 2010. Termly report on research activities will be
provided on the following dates: 1st of April 2010, 1st May, 2010 and 1st
June, 2010. Final Report of the research project will be provided on the 1st
of September, 2010.
DISSEMINATION: This research product will largely be available in
electronic form and distributed to the media, civil society organizations,
ministries and departments of government, UN agencies, foreign embassies and
consulates, International Non-Governmental Organizations, and political
parties, and online forum such as the freedom of information coalition.
Dissemination will commence on the 1of August, 2010. The Center for Human
Rights will be the primary organization that is responsible for the
dissemination of this research.
FOLLOW-UPS: Research team will debate the issues in the research
on the freedom of information coalition internet forum which has about 400
members drawn from all works of life. Teams will further engage on the report
through this medium.
ESSAY
After Sierra Leone has achieved peace in 2001, it is important to also
contribute towards its sustenance. There are many initiatives going on in the
area of peace building and these needs to be strengthened. One of the ways to
achieved this is to investigate the current trend and developments including
successes and challenges relating to the consolidation of peace. By
investigating these issues individuals and stakeholders can be well attuned
with current development. Such investigative work will contribute to build on
what ensues by driving precautionary interventions of stakeholders involved.
It is a big challenge for Sierra Leone to address many of the causes of its
past civil war which are still in existence and because the media freedom and
free expression is important agency in minimising these treats, it is of
extreme value to come out with possibly research solution that proffers ways
in which the current media landscape in Sierra Leone can be maximised and
attuned to complements efforts to achieved a durable peace.
Interdisciplinary peace research plays in important role not only for academic
use but also towards informing on early warning signals. To this end, Sierra
Leone being a fragile state can benefit from research findings that informs on
whether or not efforts of peace consolidation are working, and how we as a
nation can maximise the media landscape towards achieving better and more
realistic result in our peace efforts.
This research relates to the goal and vision of the International Peace
Research Association which is to promote interdisciplinary research since this
project will analyse the relationship between two interrelated fields of study
and how they affect each other, specifically the media and peace building and
vice versa. Through this research, the team provides a comprehensive analysis
of possible threat of the media landscape to the peace in Sierra Leone, and
thus provide recommendations to mitigate these threats. By circulating our
research finding to stakeholders concerned this research plays a role in the
revisiting media issues that may affect the peace.
Research team hopes to used this research to engage policy makers and many
stakeholders in taking actions towards mitigating the treats of media
landscape that will further prepare us as a nation entering another
challenging moment of general elections in 2010, against the backdrop that
periods of electioneering are critical moments in Sierra Leone, more so as we
are building on our hard won peace.