SJS is a press freedom organisation that defends journalists’ rights and promotes accountability for violations against media freedom including attacks on journalists covering corruption.

Priority areas the organisation is working on

• Media freedom
• Freedom of expression
• Journalists’ rights
• Human rights

Most important achievements in the past two years

SJS has released two reports on the state of press freedom in Somalia in 2019 and in 2020 that document violations against journalists and media freedom. This includes campaigns for accountability on cases of government wrongdoings. SJS also stood firmly against government bribery solicitation in Somalia.

Specific description of the CSO’s work on anti-corruption

SJS works to promote media freedom in Somalia to hold government officials accountable and to uncover cases of bribery and corruption.  SJS provides legal defense for journalists whose reporting of government wrongdoing results in detention or court cases.  Our target beneficiaries are local journalists who are members of SJS. Our intervention methods include training journalists, promoting their freedoms, and defending their journalistic reporting.

Anti-corruption activities the CSO was involved in over the past 2 years

On 28 October 2021 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has submitted an official complaint against bribe soliciting by Hirshabelle State officials to the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (IACC) of the Federal Government of Somalia and awaits IACC to launch a full and independent investigation into the case. Find out more here.

CSO’s work in relation to the UNCAC and the UNCAC review mechanism

SJS is involved in the implementation of the Self-Assessment Checklist which is the first stage of the UNCAC review process.  SJS advocates for public accountability and an end to abuses against the media such as briberies used to censor media coverage.