The first seminar organized jointly by the Union of African Journalists (UAJ) and the ICRC on the subject “The Journalist and International Humanitarian Law” was held in Nairobi (Kenya) from 16 to 20 September 1985. This event, which was the result of the close co-operation established between the ICRC and the UAJ following a mission to Cairo on 20 October 1984 by Mr Alain Modoux, head of the ICRC Information Department, had several objectives:

— to introduce African journalists to international humanitarian law and to inform them of the activities of the ICRC;

— to examine, in the light of the humanitarian problems in Africa, the role of the media in sensitizing public opinion and promoting humanitarian rules;

— to take stock of the situation with regard to the protection of journalists in their work.