Journalists, Influencers Charged to Amplify Reports on GBV to Build Violence-Free Society
Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative has called on Journalists and Influencers to synergise on strong media participation in combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Osun State.
The development was arrived at when journalists, social media influencers, and advocates gathered at the NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo, at a media discuss tagged “Influencing the Influential to End Gender-Based Violence in Osun State,” organised by Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative.
At the programme focused on empowering media practitioners to adopt zero tolerance toward all forms of abuse while promoting awareness and accountability, the speakers: Mr. Ismael Omipidan, Assistant Editor, Politics Desk of The Sun Newspapers, and former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, and Mrs Aduke Obelawo state coordinator Inter-African Committee IAC Nigeria on the eradication of Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) affecting women and children emphasised the vital role of journalists in shaping public perception and driving advocacy against GBV.
Describing Osun as a “hyperactive digital state” where social media can be used either as a tool for growth or destruction, the speakers urged participants to shun cyberbullying and channel technology toward education, advocacy, and responsible communication.
Urging victims of rape or domestic violence to speak out and avoid fear of stigmatization, the duo stated that reporting GBV cases should be followed up by holding perpetrators accountable and breaking the culture of silence which enables abuse.
Issue such Traditional Harmful Practice such as Female Genital Mutilation, childhood early and forced marriage on women and girls among others was also discussed, as the journalists and influencers were urged to intensify on using media tool to protect the survivors: women and girls in Osun state.
Noting that GBV is on the increase, Omipidan said the role of media influencers is important if the fight against GBV must be won.
“Whatever story we are telling as journalists and influencers, must be fact based; we must be sure of the source or sources of our data. We must get consent from survivors before unveiling their identity or using their photographs to tell stories because we believe that if we tell stories about gender based violence on human angle, it would help in the advocacy we are trying to embark on.
While Obelawo stated that “I just want to employ you to please do more. We have a whole lot on our hands concerning the issue of gender base violence and we cannot do without your intervention, your role. So, we want you to show more passion and be passionate about this campaign against gender base violence, to be intentional about it and follow every case of gender abuses, follow it to the last, project it and tell it to the world that some people have perpetrated evil and we will not allow it to continue. If the evil must stop then your role must intentionally be carried out.
“You are very important in handling the issue of gender base violence in Osun state and in Nigeria. We want you to take it up, take it as a responsibility and make sure that the perpetrators are responsible, take them to an account for their actions, they must face the wrath of the law and you are the one that can help us because you are the ears and voices for the voiceless,” Obelawo said.
In her goodwill message, the State Chairperson Nigeria Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ, Comrade Abisola Ariwodola urged the stakeholders to partner in nipping GBV into the bud, adding that understanding Gender Based Violence, and knowing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition VAPP Law will assist the journalists and influencers in handling GBV cases.
Emphasising that GBV also exist between same female gender, she urged all to simply avoid it, adding that the end result isn’t palatable, as the present VAPP Law doesn’t support hidding the truth, meddling, or stigmatising survivors that should be protected, and she lauded Osun government for provision of Succour Center for survivors of GBV.
The participants at the Influencing the Influential to End Gender-Based Violence in Osun State, reaffirmed their commitment to building a united front between the media, civil society, and government institutions to end gender-based violence in Osun State and beyond.