Presenter: Christiane Agbonton-Johnson, MALAO, Senegal
Afi Yakubi, FOSDA, Ghana

This workshop mainly emphasized the need to keep open, and widen, the lines of communication between NGOs and the media (radio, television, journals, etc.) Where a relationship between NGOs and the media does not currently exist, it needs to be established and a free press needs to be promoted. Journalists are also a critical part of civil society and it may be necessary for NGOs to train journalists about SALW issues, explain to them why it is important and why they should be interested in the issue. Explaining to journalists what small arms and light weapons are and how their proliferation has negatively impacted the societies concerned is a first major step in raising awareness on the SALW problem.

Talking to the media is very important because:

• The media makes inquiries where the government has failed or fallen short
• The media shapes public opinions and defines cultural norms
• The media has a duty to analyse events in light of our values and within our specific cultural contexts
• The media can be a key channel of expression for the masses and a proof of freedom