Stakeholders have charged Journalists to expose gaps that have hindered the elimination of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the country.
They also tasked the media practitioners to as well expose the perpetrators of GBV to ensure survivors get justice.
The stakeholders made the call at a one-day training organized by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) chapel, of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) for female journalists.
The training was also in partnership with Female Reporters Leadership Programme of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (FRLP-WSCIJ)
The NAWOJ President, Ms Ladi Bala, opined the media has a role in ensuring GBV and other harmful traditional practices affecting women and children were eliminated in the society.
Bala stressed the need for journalists to amplify GBV cases in their reportage with a view towards ensuring that policies and programmes targeted at the cause are implemented.
She noted the role of media as the voice of the voiceless, adding that when GBV cases are amplified in the media space, relevant authorities and the society will partner to ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted.
The Convener and NUJ-NTA Secretary, Bassey Ita-Ikpang, hinted the exercise was to broaden knowledge of female journalists on GBV reporting, gender inclusivity, cyber bullying in the face of Artificial Intelligence and mental health.
Ita-Ikpang encouraged the media to partner with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders to expose the gaps on the elimination of GBV and ensure the government takes action.
“There are certain places we cannot enter, there are certain steps, especially for those of us that work with the government.
“So we should partner with the CSOs because they can get one to where you are. There are so many gaps, so we should be exposing the gaps, writing and letting the government take action.
“Let us not be deterred, but keep writing because that is the only thing we have,” she added.
Ms Inimfon Etuk, the Founder, She Forum Africa, urged the media to also focus on the needs of GBV survivors in their reportage, and not continue to promote and provide a fire background for perpetrators.
