Article
UNESCO organizes first meeting of Central American Network of Psychosocial First Aid Volunteers for Journalists and Communicators
In the face of increasing attacks and the harassment of journalists and communicators, and the significant implications for freedom of the press, the UNESCO Regional Office for Central America, Colombia and Mexico has continued to implement a series of initiatives to support media workers and combat self-censorship.
This commitment was recently evidenced during the 1st Meeting of the Central American Network of Psychosocial First Aids Volunteers for Journalists and Communicators which was organized in El Salvador on 16th December. The Network was established by UNESCO in May 2024 with the support of key partners and is comprised of media workers trained to offer psychosocial support to their colleagues in times of crisis.
During the December meeting, members of the network participated in a series of training sessions on self-care, and a wide range of interactive activities which allowed them to share their experiences of how the hostile attitudes and actions towards media workers affect their mental health and their commitment to defending press freedom. At the same time, the Network´s role as a support group was reinforced.
In addition to offering participants the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing media workers in the region, the participants developed draft institutional action plans on strengthening the mental health and resilience and combatting self-censorship. These plans are key tools to strengthen press freedom when one considers the consequences of attacks against journalists. The difficult context in which many journalists work had led to a plethora of psychological pressures and implications such as burnout, insomnia, PTSD, anxiety and panic attacks. The cumulative impact of these experiences together with an environment of fear, have led to some journalists abandoning the profession and an increase in self-censorship, in some instances.
In light of the above, 91鶹Ʒ been very active in the region. In addition to the December 16th activity outlined above, UNESCO organized the Regional Forum on the Mental Health, Resilience of Journalists and Communicators in Latin America which was held a few days earlier on 14th December. This activity brough together representatives from university departments of journalism and communication, community radio stations, media associations and provided a platform to discuss the importance of improving the welfare of media workers in the region. Equally important, was the development of draft institutional action plans on improving the mental health and resilience of media workers. 91鶹Ʒ also placed focus on the improving the wellbeing of journalists forced to flee their homes due to violence and aggression. This was reflected in the launching of the Working Group on the Resilience and Integrated Security of Journalists which is a mechanism to promote coordination among more than 30 international, regional and national organizations supporting displaced journalists in the region.
The initiatives were implemented within the framework of the project “Soy Resiliente” geared toward improving the welfare of media workers in Central America, Colombia and Mexico. This initiative is also evidence of UNESCO´s key role in the coordination of implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Question of Impunity.
