Burundi’s National Police is preparing to introduce its first dedicated training module on the safety of journalists, freedom of expression and the right to information as part of a broader overhaul of police training aimed at aligning officers’ conduct with national, regional and international human rights standards.
The initiative emerged from a four-day technical retreat held in Gitega from June 15 to 18, where representatives of the Higher Police Institute, the Burundi National Police (PNB), the Independent National Human Rights Commission and United Nations agencies reviewed existing police training curricula and drafted new content that will be integrated into both initial and continuing police education.
The proposed reforms would, for the first time, include a standalone module covering police interactions with journalists, protection of media workers during public order operations, and international standards governing freedom of expression and access to information.
“The protection of fundamental rights, the guarantee of freedom of expression and the safety of journalists are not options; they are obligations that lead to the credibility and effectiveness of the PNB,” Inspector General of Police Gen. Joseph Ninteretse said during the opening of the retreat.
The curriculum review also updates training on child protection, prevention of gender-based violence and broader human rights issues, with organizers saying the revised modules will incorporate practical scenarios drawn from Burundi and other African countries to better prepare officers for operational situations.
According to UNESCO, discussions during the workshop focused on international and regional legal standards governing freedom of expression, legitimate restrictions on speech, prevention of hate speech, and the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. Participants also examined the role of law enforcement agencies in protecting journalists, particularly during demonstrations, public order operations and other sensitive assignments.
The retreat concluded with the adoption of a three-month roadmap under which a technical committee will finalize the revised curriculum before it is submitted to Burundian authorities for approval. Once validated, the police force plans to establish a pool of trainers responsible for delivering the new modules to recruits and serving officers, followed by a pilot training programme with technical support from UNESCO and other U.N. agencies.
Laurent Akobi Banouin, representing the U.N. Resident Coordinator in Burundi, said integrating freedom of expression and journalist safety into police training could strengthen trust between security forces and media professionals.
“The integration of themes relating to freedom of expression, the right to information and the safety of journalists into police training curricula constitutes a major advance,” Banouin said.
The initiative comes as press freedom remains under close scrutiny in Burundi despite improvements noted by some international observers in recent years.
Media rights organizations have long argued that the safety of journalists depends not only on legal protections but also on how security forces handle demonstrations, crime scenes, political events and other assignments where reporters interact directly with police. International standards promoted by UNESCO and the United Nations emphasize that law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to facilitate journalists’ work while maintaining public order.
The new curriculum is designed to familiarize officers with those standards and establish clearer guidance for police interactions with the media.
The curriculum reform follows a UNESCO-led programme that trained 50 members of the Burundi National Police in November 2025 on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists and the rule of law. According to UNESCO, participants in that programme recommended integrating the subject permanently into the national police training system rather than relying solely on periodic workshops.
Globally, UNESCO says its programme has trained more than 13,000 law enforcement officers in over 150 countries.
While the adoption of the roadmap marks a significant institutional step, several questions remain unanswered.
Authorities have not yet indicated when the revised curriculum will formally take effect, whether the new module will be compulsory for all police recruits and serving officers, how many officers are expected to receive the training annually, or how implementation will be monitored and evaluated once the programme is rolled out.
The effectiveness of the reform will ultimately be judged by whether the new training translates into changes in day-to-day policing and interactions between security forces and journalists across the country.
