CHRAJ calls for balanced reportage on human rights

Wa, July 18, GNA - Mr. Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has called on the media to give balance reportage on human rights issues to enable CHRAJ to achieve its mandate.

He urged the media to help people who come to them to complain about their human rights abuses to CHRAJ.

It was not enough to only report on such violations but it was also important to investigate them to bring offenders to book, he said. Mr. Quayson made the call at a media sensitization workshop in Wa on Thursday aimed to strengthen relations between the two institutions to effectively report on human rights issues.

He reminded the media that CHRAJ would not condone with anybody or allow itself to be used by any group of people to achieve their selfish interest.

Mr. Quayson said the CHRAJ would come out with code of ethics for public servants next year to serve as outlines to stem corrupt practices at workplaces.

"Let the media report on issues about the oil that had been discover in the country and issues about the oil must be made available to the public domain".

Madam Comfort Akosua Edu, Public Relations Officer at CHRAJ said social reporting on human rights was important as they were not only supported in domestic and international law, but also essential to the development of the country.

She said increased in coverage in media about human rights would ensure that people were better informed about their rights and the rights of others.

She said good governance and democracy rested on respecting others' rights and viewpoint and these would help democracy to entrench and stabilize.