Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), in partnership with the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, held a five-day training workshop in Kinshasa to strengthen journalists’ capacity to report on the prevention of the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups.
The workshop, held from August 24 to 28, 2026, brought together 25 journalists (12 women and 13 men) working across television, radio, print and online media. Communications officers from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the Congolese National Police (PNC) also took part, lending the sessions an added layer of cross-sector dialogue.
The curriculum covered considerable ground: conflict-sensitive journalism, human rights-based reporting, the impact of armed conflict on children, gender-sensitive reporting, the security sector, and early warning and early action. Sessions on the health, safety and protection of journalists were paired with discussions of moral injury, ethical reporting on children in the digital age and effective story-pitching.
What gave the week its weight, though, was what participants brought into the room. Journalists who had reported from Goma, Masisi, Kasai and Kinshasa described threats, detention, physical attacks and direct exposure to armed violence, along with the toll these experiences take long after the story is filed, from disrupted sleep to eroded confidence and a persistent sense of insecurity. Their accounts underscored a point the training returned to repeatedly: protecting journalists requires physical and digital safety measures alongside genuine psychological support.
“What we do as journalists can fuel or prolong conflict. Our articles have an impact on the community.” – Clarisse Ekoko, Congolese Union of Women in the Media
Central to the workshop was the principle that children’s rights, dignity and best interests must remain at the centre of any reporting that involves them. Participants examined how word choice, imagery and story framing can either safeguard a child or expose them to further harm and stigmatization.
Ronely Ntibonera, a journalist with Radio Okapi, said the training will change how he approaches these stories: “I learned the importance of using the PReNEL principle in reporting and of putting the child at the centre of the story. This will help me change the way I present stories by humanizing them instead of limiting my reporting to accusations or pointing fingers.”
Clarisse Ekoko, a journalist with the Congolese Union of Women in the Media, reflected on journalism’s broader influence on conflict dynamics. “What we do as journalists can fuel or prolong conflict. Our articles have an impact on the community. I also learned that we should not focus only on problems, but highlight the efforts being made within communities to address them.”
Dedelle Ndomba, a journalist with the Congolese National Radio and Television, said the training gave her practical tools she intends to apply directly. “I learned how to produce ethical reports about children in the digital age and how to protect myself while reporting in conflict zones or covering violent demonstrations. I will use the knowledge gained from this training to produce reports on preventing the recruitment and use of children and encourage the authorities to take action.”
Pre- and post-training assessments confirmed measurable gains, showing that participants strengthened both their understanding of the Vancouver Principles and their capacity to report ethically on these issues. Launched by Canada in November 2017, in partnership with the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative and in consultation with the UN and child protection actors, the Vancouver Principles set out political commitments guiding UN peacekeeping efforts to prevent and address the recruitment and use of child soldiers. They were introduced in response to the persistently high number of children affected by armed conflict worldwide, building on the earlier Paris Principles of 2007.
All 25 participants received certificates at the close of the workshop and committed to applying their new knowledge through articles, radio programmes and television reports. They also called for continued mentorship, reporting grants, and stronger collaboration between journalists, security actors and child protection organizations.
The training was facilitated by Prince Murhula, JHR’s Country Manager in the DRC, and Papy Kilobo of the Dallaire Institute, with support from Global Affairs Canada.
Through this partnership, JHR and the Dallaire Institute continue to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills to report on children affected by conflict safely, ethically and accurately, strengthening the media’s contribution to child protection, public awareness and accountability in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
