Agency report
To improve reporting on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria, some stakeholders have outlined some key strategies that can significantly enhance societal understanding and ensure justice for victims.
The stakeholders consisting of media experts and human rights activists urged journalists to avoid sensationalism in their stories and input of personal biases, saying doing so could likely distort the reality of the situation.
They also called for the use of appropriate language in reporting cases of sexual violence for sensitivity, accuracy and respect for the victims.
According to the Premium Times,
the experts made this call during a two-day workshop on understanding sexual and gender-based violence in private and public spaces, particularly in tertiary institutions.
It reports that the event which was titled: “Training for the Media and Legal Frameworks to Address Sexual Institutions in Nigeria,” was organised by Alliances for Africa (AFA), a non-profit advocating for human rights, in partnership with the Imo State Committee on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (ISCEVAWG) and Co-Impact.
It added that the event focused on equipping media professionals with a thorough understanding of SGBV as a human rights issue, along with best practices for reporting and addressing sexual harassment.
It also aimed to enhance the media’s knowledge of the national and legal frameworks for combating sexual harassment in tertiary institutions across Nigeria
A human-rights lawyer, Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga, who facilitated the workshop, disclosed that legal frameworks can be used to strengthen reports on abuses and justice demand for victims, even as she cited the African Charter Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, also known as the Maputo Protocol.
She noted that the protocol offers comprehensive protection for women’s rights, particularly emphasising reproductive health rights and their fundamental autonomy.
She urged reporters to arm themselves with the provisions of the laws that protect the rights of every citizen from all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.
She noted since it has been domesticated, the charter is binding in Nigeria, noting that the Nigerian Violations Against Person Prohibitions (VAPP) Act of 2015, is also a recognised framework against sexual violence and harassment.
According to her, the law protects both men and women from sexual violence and grants them equal rights and as such, a good framework that should be used efficiently by journalists.
On their parts, media experts present at the workshop suggested that journalists writing on sexual violence become conversant with all the laws that apply and can be used to fight for it.
They urged the reporters to invest their time to learn about the stance of the law on such sensitive issues in Nigeria.
Some also called for continuous training for reporters and the provision of the adequate tools by media organisations and managers.
