Accra, Jan 29, GNA – Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), a media and human rights advocacy group, has hosted a one-day workshop in the Asante Akyem Agogo community, in the Ashanti Region aimed at empowering journalists and activists against child and forced labour.
The event attracted over 30 dedicated participants, including journalists, human rights advocates, representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs), and community leaders.
The workshop, themed “Combating Child and Forced Labour through Video Verification Techniques,” sought to equip attendees with essential skills to utilize video technology in their advocacy efforts.
Participants learnt to develop monitoring systems to track instances of the abuses while fostering a collaborative network of stakeholders committed to eradicating child labour in Asante Akyem Agogo and surrounding areas.
Dr. Joseph Wemakor, Executive Director of HRRG, opened the session with a powerful overview of the child labour crisis, highlighting its alarming prevalence and the devastating impact on children, families, and society.
He stressed the need for collective action, sharing striking statistics and poignant real-life stories that underscored the gravity of the issue, emphasizing that innovative solutions were vital for addressing the challenge.
Edem Damanka, Executive Director of Edmark Rescue Foundation, further enriched the dialogue by stressing the importance of community engagement.“We must empower our communities to recognize the signs of child labour and work together to create lasting change,” he asserted.
“Only through collective efforts can we protect our children and ensure a brighter future.”
A highlight of the workshop was a session, where Kwame Darkwah Yiadom, an expert facilitator, introduced participants to sophisticated photo and video verification methods with a particular emphasis on geo-mapping technology.
Mr. Yiadom demonstrated how this innovative tool could authenticate videos, ensuring that reports of child and forced labour were credible and evidence-based.
Participants learnt to track the location, time, and context of recorded videos, significantly enhancing their advocacy and monitoring capabilities.
The training fostered dynamic discussions, with participants exchanging diverse perspectives on effective strategies to combat child and forced labour in their communities.
Many expressed their commitment to forming a collaborative network dedicated to eradicating child labour, providing a platform for resource sharing, strategies, and best practices.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive.
Vincent, a reporter from Asempa Radio, praised the organizers for the insightful programme and highlighted the need for regular training sessions to empower community members in identifying and reporting on child labour cases. “If this could occur three or four times a year, it would be incredibly beneficial,” he remarked.
Ms Adepa Yalley echoed this sentiment, stating, “This training has been extremely impactful, and I will implement everything I learnt.The knowledge gained will significantly support our fight against child labour in our community.”
The workshop underscored the importance of united efforts in tackling child and forced labour.
Looking ahead, HRRG is committed to strengthening the newly formed network of stakeholders and supporting participants in implementing digital verification techniques in their respective regions.
The event was made possible with funding from WITNESS, a global human rights organization dedicated to empowering individuals to leverage video and technology for the protection of human rights.
This initiative arose from Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor’s selection for the ‘Fortifying the Truth Cohort’ by WITNESS, where he participated in intensive training in community-based digital verification techniques in Abuja, Nigeria, from May 29 to 31, 2024.
GNA