By Charles Igwe
The SIGNIS Africa Conference on migrants and refugees has successfully concluded in Kampala, Uganda, with the development of a draft compilation that will serve as professional guidelines for Catholic media in Africa when reporting on migrants and refugees. A dedicated committee will be established to further refine the draft and ensure its effectiveness.
During the final day of the conference, media lecturers from Makerere University in Uganda engaged in discussions with participants, focusing on ways to promote professional and compassionate reporting that remains factual and objective. The unique qualities and characteristics of African Catholic media practitioners were thoroughly explored.
As part of the conference program, participants embarked on a visit to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, located approximately 300 kilometers from the capital city, Kampala. This visit provided an immersive experience, allowing firsthand observation of the living conditions of refugees and migrants in the settlements. The purpose of this visit was to move beyond theoretical discussions and engage in a meaningful encounter with refugees, offering an opportunity to listen to their stories and gain deeper insights.
The conference aimed to emphasize the importance of reporting on migrants and refugees from a place of empathy and understanding, and this visit to the refugee settlement served as a practical exercise in fostering a more compassionate approach to reporting.
By adopting the professional guidelines developed during the conference, Catholic media practitioners in Africa will be better equipped to convey the stories of migrants and refugees with empathy, accuracy, and objectivity, ensuring that their voices are heard and their experiences are shared with dignity and respect.
