The President of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) is attending the International Debate Symposium in Washington.

According to a release from the SLAJ Secretariat, the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, has departed Sierra Leone to attend this year’s International Debate Best Practices Symposium in Washington DC, USA from the 19th to the 22nd of November 2024.

The SLAJ President is attending in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Political Debates Committee (NPDC), a multi-stakeholder group comprising 11 organizations, including civil society organizations, EMBs, women, People living with disabilities, youth and the media.

The SLAJ is co- chair of the Committee with the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC).

Organized by the US-based Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), the program on International Debate and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the symposium is part of ongoing efforts to support debate sponsoring groups around the world by promoting the sharing of ideas and experiences. As usual, the symposium will bring together new and long-standing members of Debate International network, a network of sponsors on debates from more than 40 countries, meant to share the latest practical lessons in organizing and producing political candidates’ debates, including discussing common challenges and solutions around the world.

During the symposium, discussion on topics will include: drawing lessons from recent debates staged by the Network on Debates International by members; developing international standards for effective, non- partisan debates; designing approaches to convince candidates to take part in debates; forming permanent debate-sponsoring organizations; producing a live TV and live-streamed debate broadcast; creating innovative and informative debate formats; selecting and preparing moderators; and facilitating regional collaboration among peer debate sponsors.

The SLAJ President is scheduled to moderate a panel on ‘Coalition vs Competition’ in organizing political debates.

“Although we did not organize a presidential debate in our national elections last year, we still have the success story of the 2018 presidential elections debate to share with other countries. I am truly honored and excited to be a part of this gathering and moderate a panel that promises to be interesting and educative.”