NGO Tasks Journalists On Impactful Reporting On Gender Protection, SGBV and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

 

By Melvin Ibeh, Maiduguri 

A non - governmental organisation, Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR Ambassadors), has charged Journalists to improve reportage on sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and violence against women and girls ( VAWG ) .

The Executive Director DCR Ambassadors, Ruth Usman gave the charge at a one-day training for media reporters on "Impactful Reporting on Gender Protection and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls", which was held at the weekend in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. 

The Director who noted that a lot of actors are doing tremendous works in regards to gender based violence (GBV) prevention and response, especially provision of case management support, psychosocial support including media reporting and narrative writing, regretted that GBV cases remain grossly under reported ,especially in rural communities where access to media and the press is almost not possible. 

Represented by Tarhemba Msendoo Grace, Communications and Outreach manager DCR Ambassadors, Ruth Usman said humanitarian actors cannot relent, but continue to intensify efforts to prevent and respond to the risks by ensuring that access to justice and other social services is attained in a timely manner. 

She said:" The training is one of activities lined up for implementation on our project titled:"Strengthening Institutional and Multi-sectoral Capacity to Prevent and Respond to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and Violence Against Women (VAWG) in Borno State ".

A cross section of reporters at the SGBV training organised by DCR Ambassadors in Maiduguri

The project is a 24month intervention fully funded by Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)/EU Spotlight Initiative, with technical support from UN women in Nigeria and implemented across five targeted local government areas in Borno State comprising Maiduguri Metropolis, Jere, Konduga, Gwoza and Monguno. 

She noted that the training for media reporters is one of those timely strategies that will assist in changing the gender narratives in Northeast Nigeria .

Also speaking, Program Manager DCR Ambassadors, Richard Inyamkume said the training was based on recognition that media play important and critical roles in reporting Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

“The content about what goes out matters, we need professionalism and confidentiality in handling some of the cases that pertain to survivors. So it is important that those who are in the area of reporting GBV should be able to understand the guidelines and principles in handling of cases relating to GBV," he said. 

Mrs Blessing Tunor and Mr Abdulkareem Haruna who participated in the training described it as very important gesture that was long overdue considering that Borno is a conflict zone and knowing that women are the most vulnerable to the over 10 years Boko Haram insurgency. 

"There are some female headed homes where the women are faced with the challenges of feeding the families and sometimes exposed to sexual exploitation. Unless you are aware and trained to report GBV, you would not be able bring out all the issues not for story sake, but for a solution for eradication of the menace," the participants said.  End

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