By Mammy Saidykhan
The executive board and staff of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) on 23rd April, 2020 ended a day-long training on the Legal Assistance, and Membership Welfare policies. The training intended to increase the knowledge and understanding of the participants of the two policies and how they could be effectively implemented.
The Legal Assistance Policy is intended to guide and facilitate the Union’s provision of effective and timely legal assistance, advice and representation for the journalists. It is also meant to provide basic legal training, knowledge and insights on aspects of law relating to the work of journalists.
The Membership Welfare Policy establishes a framework for the provision of services and access to facilities and amenities offered by the Union to its members. The policy outlines a range of direct and tangible benefits for union members. It also set rules and standards for service delivery in a manner that is efficient and equitable.
The two policies are developed with funding from the British Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office under the project “Promoting a culture of access to information and enhancing the capacity and welfare of journalists”.
“It is important that that GPU as an institution have good policies that will guide its operations, and these policies will help the course of the Union in the promotion of press freedom and membership welfare,” Kebba Jeffang, a board member, said during the training at held at the GPU Secretariat.