NGO Partners French Embassy To Train Journalists On Gender-Based Violence

By: Prudence Okonna

To help combat gender-based violence (GBV), the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has partnered the French Embassy in Nigeria to train journalists on skills for sensitive and impactful reporting.

The One-day capacity building workshop tagged “Enhancing Media Reporting on Gender-Based Violence” is part of the activities organised by CJID to mark the 16 Days of Activism to equip journalists with the skills and ethical framework necessary for reporting on GBV.

The Press and Political Advisor, Bertrand De Seissan De Marignan, that represented the French Embassy at the occasion, said journalists play a crucial role in strengthening the voices of survivors, raising public awareness, and creating emotional empathy in storytelling.

His words: “The media’s role in combating GBV is vital and
through partnerships like this, we aim to foster journalism that reflects society’s commitment to equity and justice.”

Seissan De Marignan added that the collaboration between CJID and the French Embassy reinforces the power of media as a tool for advocacy, education, and societal change, setting a standard for future initiatives in the fight against gender-based violence.

He revealed that the French Embassy has implemented 13 projects across 11 Nigerian states including debates, exhibitions, educational games, and awareness workshops, collectively reaching over 200 people and raising awareness about GBV.

Deputy Director, Journalism Programme, CJID, Bukola Ajobola, highlighted the importance of the training; stating that journalists have a responsibility to report on GBV in a sensitive and impactful manner.

Ajobola disclosed that a in recently conducted survey on GBV reporting by journalists shows that biases, and systemic flaws not only tarnish the credibility of the journalism profession but also perpetuate harmful narratives about survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

Abuja Digest reports that the workshop focused on areas such as “Techniques for interviewing survivors and witnesses while maintaining ethical boundaries”, “using data to reveal the scale and context of GBV in Nigeria” as well as “Verifying misinformation: dispeling common myths and stereotypes about GBV”.

Abuja Digest further reports that the 2024 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign is tagged “Accountability for Gender-Based Violence,” commemorating nearly three decades since the Beijing Declaration.

The global campaign aims to raise awareness and mobilize action to end all forms of violence against women and girls.