The Role of Media in Peacebuilding in Haiti at the Heart of a Symposium
By Gedeon Delva · Port-au-Prince
· 2 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
At the initiative of the Technical Commission for the Restructuring of the National Radio and Television of Haiti (RTNH), a symposium was held in a hotel in Petion Ville on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Held on the occasion of the Latin American Press Day, the chosen theme was: 'Media and Culture of Peace.'
The objective was to collectively reflect on the fundamental role of the press in promoting peace, social cohesion, and a renewed democratic culture.
Present at this event, the Secretary of State for Communication, Bendgy Tilias, hailed the courage of press professionals who, despite an often hostile climate, continue to practice their profession with dedication, sometimes at the risk of their lives. 'To these courageous women and men, I pay a solemn tribute today,' he declared.
In his address, Mr. Tilias called on journalists to become the architects of an alternative narrative, a counter-narrative capable of overcoming the pains of the past to convey a message of hope. He urged the media to remain pillars of democracy, bearers of truth, and builders of peace, in accordance with the day's theme.
'Peace is not built with weapons alone. It begins in the mind. And in this fight for appeasement, truth, clarity, and social cohesion, the press is on the front line,' he emphasized, while reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring a secure environment for the practice of journalism.
The Secretary of State also invited the media to join national efforts in favor of public security, the restoration of the country's image, and the defense of republican values.
'Haiti needs a free, independent, but also responsible press, committed to the moral and institutional reconstruction of the nation,' he concluded, advocating for a true media pedagogy of peace: information that disarms without weakening, alerts without alarming, and mobilizes without enlisting.
The event brought together several personalities, including journalists, communicators, researchers, media officials, and civil society actors.
