By Our Correspondent
Lagos, Dec.13, ’24 (TNZ) A non-governmental organisation, Women Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), has trained journalists on ethical reporting of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence(SGBV)cases.
TheNewsZenith reports that WRAHP rounded off the two-day training programme on Friday in Lagos.
Speaking on the final day of the programme, the Executive Director of WRAHP, Bose Ironsi, said the training aimed at strengthening ethical reporting, documentation, and follow-up of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases.
Ironsi said the training was implemented under WRAHP’s project, titled “Scaling up Access to Justice–Related Social Services for Women and Girls Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Lagos and Edo States.”
She added that the programme was implemented with the support of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC II).
According to her, 20 journalists and representatives drawn from media organisations across Lagos and Edo States participated in the programme.
“The sessions are designed to improve the quality of SGBV reporting while ensuring survivor-centred, ethical, and rights-based media engagement,” TheNewsZenith quotes Ironsi as saying.
She emphasised the critical role of the media in advancing access to justice for survivors.
The director also noted that the media plays a powerful role in shaping public perception, influencing accountability, and amplifying survivors’ voices.
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She said ethical, accurate, and sensitive reporting was essential to ensuring that survivors are protected and supported rather than re-traumatised.
Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, the Ag. Head of Lagos Office Operations of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) took participants through the training.
Omowole said several legal, cultural and social issues should be considered when collecting data on violence against women and girls (VAWG).
She noted the sensitive nature of discussions on violence and the potential traumatising, particularly if survivors are revisiting past experiences.
“Collecting information from women and girls about their experiences of violence must, therefore, be done safely and ethically.
“This is to ensure data quality is not compromised and respondents’ and interviewers’ physical, psychological, and social well-being are not put at risk in the process,” she said.
The training was held on Thursday, in Lagos State and Edo State simultaneously.
Responding on behalf of the participants, Mr Shakirudeen Bankole, Publisher, Nigeria Frontline News, said that the training was eye-opening as it further reinforced what was already known.
Bankole said that the programme had expanded participants’ knowledge of the need for ethical compliance while reporting SGBV cases. (TNZ)
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