Journalists Charged to Amplify Reports on GBV to Build Free Violence Society

A Non Governmental Organisation, Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative in partnership with the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), have appealed to journalists to amplify reports about gender-based violence to build a society that is free from violence.

Speaking at a one-day capacity-building programme tagged: Influencing the Influencers to End GBV,” in Osogbo, on Friday, the Deputy Editor ( Politics) of The Sun Newspaper, Ismail Omipidan, who was one of the Guest Speakers, explained that the programme was designed to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills to use their voice and platform for positive change.

Noting that GBV is on the increase, Omipidan said the role of media influencers is important if the fight against GBV must be won.

“Whatever story we are telling as journalists and influencers, must be fact based; we must be sure of the source or sources of our data. We must get consent from survivors before unveiling their identity or using their photographs to tell stories because we believe that if we tell stories about gender based violence on human angle, it would help in the advocacy we are trying to embark on.

Speaking on fears of survivors to relate story to the media, Omipidan urged them to divulge information so that it will not affect their mental health and state of being.

“For survivors, I will encourage them to always endeavor to tell their stories and we must help them to break the torture of silence because unless they speak up, they won’t be able to get justice and we will not be able to prevent the reoccurrence of such act within the community or neighborhood where they live,” Omipidan said.

He appealed to desk editors and program directors to ensure that they give adequate space and time to issues related to gender based violence, saying “we are either a father or a mother, brother or sister, meaning that if it hasn’t happen to us, there’s every tendency that it would happen to somebody that is close.”

The Osun State Coordinator of Inter Africa Committees on the eradication of harmful traditional practices affecting women and children, Mrs. Aduke Obelawo, commended the media for the efforts they are making, urging them to do more by providing succor for survivors of GBV.

“Journalists are advised to be more dedicated by ensuring that survivors who are willing to speak up get justice and those who may have inflicted the harm or carry out the violence on them are punished by allowing them to face the full wrath of the law.

“I just want to employ you to please do more. We have a whole lot on our hands concerning the issue of gender base violence and we cannot do without your intervention, your role. So, we want you to show more passion and be passionate about this campaign against gender base violence, to be intentional about it and follow every case of gender abuses, follow it to the last, project it and tell it to the world that some people have perpetrated evil and we will not allow it to continue. If the evil must stop then your role must intentionally be carried out.

“You are very important in handling the issue of gender base violence in Osun state and in Nigeria. We want you to take it up, take it as a responsibility and make sure that the perpetrators are responsible, take them to an account for their actions, they must face the wrath of the law and you are the one that can help us because you are the ears and voices for the voiceless,” Obelawo said.