The French Ambassador to Kenya, H. E Mrs Elisabeth Barbier, presented a medal of special distinction to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) on 10th December 2009 in Nairobi. NUSOJ entered the competition for the 2009 French Republic’s Human Rights prize. The ceremony took place in the presence of Somali journalists and representatives of the international community.

The Commission nationale consultative des droits de l’Homme (CNCDH - National Consultative Commission of Human Rights) awarded NUSOJ a special distinction, in recognition of the work the union has been doing in encouraging freedom of speech, and defending and enhancing media freedom and human rights in Somalia. Freedom of speech was one of the two themes chosen by CNCDH this year (the other one was the protection of street children).

The Medal

NUSOJ has been recognised by this award for its relentlessness and concerted efforts in the defence of the rights of the media as a fundamental tenet of freedom of speech, the rights and welfare of journalists and the public’s right to unbridled access to information and entertainment, and the right to express oneself freely, and to receive, impart and acquire information. Somalia is the most dangerous country in Africa for journalists. Nine Somali journalists were killed in 2009.