By: Nyima Sillah
Over 14 Gambian journalists were on Thursday trained on how to effectively report on gender-based violence incidences and its related matters, and the day long training was organized by Paradise Foundation, held at Paradise Hotel.
The training aimed to equip journalists to understand and know how to handle gender-based violence cases, share experience and understand the fact of Gender Based Violence.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Aisha Baldeh, Chief Executive Officer of Paradise Foundation described Paradise Foundation is an NGO organization that was established to support and empower communities particularly women and children.
“One of the key activities PF did was to set up the first GBV helpline which survivals use to call and their next project is to launch a center for women where they can have access to services especially sociological support to hale them from their trumpmatise,” she told the participants.
She pointed out that gender based violence is an issue that talks about both men and women but we focus more on the women because they are most vulnerable people in our societies.
UNFPA representative, Alieu Sarr said that the orientation of the media is critically important because nowadays people face with challenges of misinformation.
According to him, those who are likely responsible for disseminating such in formations need to be adequately educated on the issues of GBV so that succeed can be made in reducing misinformation in the country.
“GBV is a very sensitive issue and there are some cultures of silence surrounding GBV so with misinformation’s some of those misinformation’s are amplified which may stole the effort to stop the practice of GBV in this country.
The role of media in the campaign against GBV and harmful practices affected women and girls are critical,” he said.
He added: “We know they contribute a lot in awareness creation in the types of GBV common in our country and the negative impact of individuals so education in this area is very important and this discussion forum will create an opportunity for people to expose to the ethical issues and safe guard against reporting on such cases.”
Neneh Touray, representative of Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, also said GBV case is sensitivity and urged media personnel to tackle stories related to it.
“In this country females constitute 51% of the population so if females are subjected to some of these violations it will be very unfortunate, we know how this can impact the lives of majority of the population in the country,” she said.
Statistic have shown that up to 55% of women age 15-49 and 34.8% of women within the same age bracket were married off before the age 18years and the 75% are those subjected to FGM. Looking at the static we have task in the country because if more than a third of girls married before the age of 18years there will be a lot of miss opportunities for these girls, he explained.
