Capacity-Building Workshop:

SW Journalists Schooled on Gender-Based Violence

By Ticha Melanis in Limbe

MINPROF Delegate eddifying journalists about GBV Journalists

 listening keenly to the resource person

The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, MINPROFF, in collaboration with UNFPA have organized a two-day seminar to build the capacities of journalists in the South West region on reporting gender-based violence (GBV). Holding at a popular hotel in Limbe, on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, facilitators at the seminar urged journalists and radio animators to prioritize GBV in their news bulletins and radio programs respectively.

            The sub-director of gender at the MINPROFF, Francisca Moto, sitting side by side with the SW Delegate of Communication enjoined journalists to report GBV ethically and with empathy and confidentiality so as to help society attain a zero percent rate of sexual abuse on women.

            "This seminar is in line with the context under which we are; the Anglophone Crisis. It has been noticed that in crisis situation GBV skyrockets. We have had cases of rape and other forms of gender-based violence. So it was necessary to bring journalists together and give them the basics in handling and reporting cases of GBV and remind them of the need to create programs on the issue. These will help sensitize the population on GBV," Mme Moto said.

            She said journalists and radio animators as opinion leaders and agenda setters of the community should help victims of GBV by giving them the opportunity to share their experiences and denounce perpetrators.

            According to the Southwest Regional Delegate of MINPROFF, Mofa Edith Lyonga, the seminar is timely because GBV is on the rise in the region and elsewhere perhaps due to the ongoing Anglophone crisis. She said after working with service providers t is now the turn of journalists to also update their knowledge on GBV so as to better inform and shape public opinion.

            Mrs Mofa underscored the importance of the seminar, saying it will help journalists to avoid misinforming the public or giving inaccurate information on the very complex issue of GBV.

            Facilitators from MINPROFF, LUKMEF and UNFPA drilled participants on such issues as: “Why GBV is under-reported by the media”; “key issues when reporting on GBV”; “How to interview a GBV survivor” amongst others. There were also presentations of sample GBV programs.

            The 29 participants at the workshop expressed satisfaction with the knowledge gained.