Umo Edet|3 September 2018
The Coalition of Eastern Non Governmental Organizations (CENGOS) Nigeria has urged the media to take up issues revolving around gender-based violence (GBV) as this has become a global problem witnessed in every part of the country NegroidHaven has confirmed. The media practitioners were advised to educate and speak firmly against GBV and not camouflage it.
This call was made in a media training workshop on Sexual Reproductive Health Right (SRHR) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) organized by CENGOs with the support of Amplify Change held in Calabar, Cross River state capital city on the 31st of August this year in line with their project of building bridges to end gender-based violence and increasing young people's access to sexual health information and services.
The workshop featured training on understanding SRHR and the techniques for reporting GBV.
In one of the sessions, Prof Offiong Ani Offiong, professor of Linguistics and Communication at the prestigious University of Calabar pointed out flaws in the way media represents GBV against women as the media is suppose to be the main sector that should prevent violence against women. According to him, reportage should be sensitive and educative especially of the perpetrators of the act.
His words, 'The media must move beyond court reporting speaking mostly to spokesperson and be sensitive in reportage. Importantly the media must educate and speak firmly against GBV
They should come up with solutions as well as ideas for prevention and care."
Journalists, media practitioners, therefore have been urged to raise public awareness around the issue and highlight existing gaps in service provisions and response while acting as catalyst for wider discussion and debate around GBV.
Umo Edet is a guest writer who writes from Calabar
