Deborah Adekaa
Journalists in Benue State have been urged to use their platforms to promote accountability and protect survivors as the state joins other parts of the country in strengthening media response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
The call was made during the inauguration of the SGBV Media Corps in Makurdi , following a two-day capacity-building workshop organised by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), with support from the European Union.
The Benue State Coordinator of the ESGBV Programme, International IDEA, Mrs Gloria Iveren Bai, said the new Media Corps was expected to improve the quality of SGBV reporting by encouraging journalists to conduct thorough research and place the safety and dignity of survivors at the centre of their work.
Bai cautioned against reporting practices that could expose survivors or subject them to further trauma, stressing that journalists should pay greater attention to perpetrators, accountability and the wider issues surrounding SGBV.
She said ethical reporting should not only inform the public but also contribute to justice and the protection of vulnerable persons.
Representing the Director-General of NAPTIP, the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr Vincent Adekoye, charged members of the Media Corps to abide by the SGBV Media Code of Conduct.
He urged them to protect survivors and confidential sources, participate in continuous training and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in tackling SGBV.
Adekoye said the Media Corps would also work with NAPTIP and International IDEA in Benue, Kaduna, Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory to promote public awareness and improve reporting on SGBV.
He encouraged members to make evidence-based and trauma-informed journalism a consistent feature of their coverage.
Also speaking, the Civil Society and Community Mobilisation Specialist of the ESGBV Programme, Mrs Wynyfred Achu-Egbuson, commended participants for their commitment throughout the training.
She described the inauguration as the beginning of a continuing partnership with the journalists, assuring them of further capacity-building opportunities.
Achu-Egbuson said the initiative was aimed at equipping journalists with the skills required to report sensitive issues responsibly and make a meaningful contribution to society.
She added that the Media Corps model could be replicated by other government agencies seeking stronger media engagement in addressing social problems.
The newly inaugurated Media Corps is expected to serve as a platform for journalists to promote responsible SGBV reporting, amplify issues of prevention and accountability, and contribute to better access to justice and support for survivors.