Gender-based violence: Media practitioners urged to sensitise society

Media practitioners have been urged to sensitise and help propagate against gender-based violence in society.

The charge was given at a one-day capacity training for journalists on Gender-Based violence and inclusion in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

In her welcome remark, Constance Meju, a newspaper publisher, explained that the reason for the training was to do an elaborate report on how to reduce gender-based violence and report women issues that are effecting them.
Meju maintained that women issues are national issues, and regretted that women issues were taking the back stage in society. She also pointed out that in the areas of politics and economy, women are left behind.

Read also: How to know when a person is suffering from gender-based violence – Ibekwe

According to her, during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many women suffered but that it was under-reported.

She urged the media, which she noted is a veritable tool, to correct the ills in society.

Emen Okon, executive director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resources Centre, said that journalists must understand gender-based violence and escalate how the highly place people are abusing women.

She noted that the girl child and persons with disabilities are also victims of gender-based as they are vulnerable in society.

She deplored situations where people’s rights are abused and perpetrators go scot-free in society.

“The society should take drastic action against perpetrators of violence against gender, especially those with disabilities,” she said.

She lamented that policy makers rank most among those who commit this crime against humanity.

Okon tasked journalists as watch-dogs in society and the conscience of the society to do a fair reporting, especially by eliminating traditional norms that discriminate against women in society.
“The media can change the mindset of the society on some key issues in the society,” she said.

Okon also expressed displeasure over the level of poverty in society which helped to increase the level of crime.

Read also: Women affairs minister to mobilise against gender-based violence

In her lecture, Rosemary Dokubo, a Board member of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, raised the concern on Section 38 of the Violence of Person Prohibition Act, saying that the law also created an opportunity for the victims to be treated.

“Some of the violence against women are lack of access to land, lack of access to clean water, rape, assault, victimisation, sex for grade, harmful traditional practices,” she said, adding that women account for 70 person in poverty, among others.

Other speakers noted that most of the perpetrators of the gender-based violence are top politicians, top military personnels, community chiefs, teachers and even clerics in religious worship centres.