European Union ( EU -UN) spotlight initiatives has in collaboration with National Orentation Agency , Ebonyi state, flag off a two day Media dialogue on elimination of Violence Against, Children, Women and Girls, in Nigeria.
The workshop was aimed at addressing the increasing rate of violence against women and girls especially this period of COVID-19 lockdown with particular interest on Cross River and Ebonyi States respectively was organization in Enugu over the week.
In a goodwill message, Chief of Field Office, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Enugu Ibrahim Conteh said part of the workshop was also to equip journalists with relevant knowledge on gender based violence (GBV) using data to demonstrate the impact on girls and women and how to raise voice against it.
Conteh, while speaking against GBV advised that the media should as a matter of urgency emphases on measures stipulated to stop the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in rural communities.
He expressed worry that the virus was spreading into the communities where the residents do not obey the physical distancing and regular hand washing or use of face mask which are the only preventive measure available or have not known enough about it.
He explained that, ‘”This is an extraordinary time, things are not getting better, Nigeria needs to brace up. Many Africans believed our climate made it difficult for Coronavirus to infect us but that has been proved to be a wrong impression”.
“Let us work together to disseminate the message about COVID-19 because vaccine has not been effectively developed” saying that vaccines takes long processes to be approved.
” While talking on factors that suppressed violence against women and girls, use the Spotlight to advocate how people should behave and protect themselves and others in communities , those in communities are now having it” He said.
The Communication Officer, UNICEF, Enugu, Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe and State Director, NOA, Ebonyi, Emmanuel Abah had earlier in their separate presentations called on the journalists to develop action plans on stories that would sensitize communities and families on gender based violence.
They called on journalists to report properly issues on GBV in their respective states with the best international practice looking at the interest of the girl child to avoid been stigmatized.
One of the resource persons Chidi Ezinwa, of the department of Mass Communication, ESUT, Enugu, talked on Child Rights Reporting and Ethical response from the media while Victor Atuchukwu, Child Protection Specialists UNICEF, Enugu made presentations on gender based violence in Nigeria..
