LocationsMunicipal elections: STAE trains women journalists and political parties on election reporting
September 12, 2023
Nearly 40 women journalists and women from political parties, coalitions of political parties and groups of proposing voters, from all the country's provinces, are benefiting from a 2-day training course, in Maputo, on election reporting, organized by the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) with the support of the UNDP's Democracy and Elections project.
Focusing on the upcoming Municipal Elections, the objective of this training is to provide participants with content on the electoral cycle, the code of conduct for the coverage of electoral acts, the role of communication in the management of electoral conflicts, journalistic writing techniques, fact-checking tools, as well as combating fake news and disinformation during electoral processes.
As a continuous activity, this training is part of a series of media and election trainings, which began this year in Marracuene, on the Day of the Mozambican Journalist – celebrated annually on 11 April. Since then, CNE, STAE and MISA-Mozambique, in partnership with the UNDP Democracy and Elections project and support from the governments of Norway, Canada and Spain, have trained just over 500 journalists and communication professionals from all provinces of the country, from various radios, televisions, print newspapers, magazines and digital media.
Women's involvement is crucial
The United Nations recognizes the need to protect and promote women's right to participate in the electoral process. The equal participation of women is essential for democratic elections. For elections to be truly free and fair, women must have the same opportunities as men to participate in all aspects of the electoral process.
The Secretary General of the National Union of Journalists (SNJ), Faruco Sadique, urged journalists and members of political organisations to take advantage of the training to discuss and incorporate into their work the best practices for covering electoral processes, carrying out their role with professionalism, responsibility, transparency and credibility.
Notes to editors:
About UNDP:
- UNDP works in 170 countries and territories with the aim of eradicating poverty and reducing inequality. We help countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships, institutional capacities and build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work focuses on three main areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peacebuilding, and resilience to climate change and disasters.
- UNDP's mission and vision: UNDP's mandate is to eradicate poverty, promote democratic governance, the rule of law and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change and connect countries with the knowledge, experience and resources needed to help people build a better life.
About the project:
- Since the first multiparty elections, UNDP has worked closely with Mozambique's electoral and justice bodies, contributing to the consolidation of peace, transparency and effectiveness of electoral processes. Through its Strategic Plan, UNDP underlines the importance of consolidating and strengthening democratic processes and institutional practice in Mozambique. Fundamental to these objectives is the involvement of citizens as key stakeholders in the governance and administration of Mozambique, with the aim of achieving full adherence to the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
- "Strengthening Democracy and Electoral Processes in Mozambique" is a four-year UNDP project designed to strengthen the democratic and electoral system in Mozambique and builds on previous electoral support and lessons learned as the country enters its electoral cycle, including the run-up to the 2023 Local Elections and the 2024 General Elections.
- The UNDP Democracy and Elections project is developed based on the formal request of the Government of Mozambique, the recommendation of the Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) conducted by the United Nations in April 2021, the reports of international election observers on the 2019 elections and is aligned with the UNDP Country Programme Document (PCD) and the Government of Mozambique's Five-Year Plan 2020-2024 (Government Five-Year Programme, PQG).
For more information:
UNDP:
Andres Castillo. Tel +258 850751959, andres.castillo@undp.org - CTA, Democracy and Elections Project
Rochan Kadariya. Tel. +258 842776492, rochan.kadariya@undp.org – Digital Electoral Solutions Specialist
Matthew Fotine. Tel. +258 879880203, mateus.fotine@undp.org - Information and External Relations Officer
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