\The media should be agents of change for sexual and gender based violence’ – SLAJ President

SLAJ President, Umaru Fofanah

By Zainab Kanu

The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, (SLAJ), has told a cross section of journalists, civil society activities and other stakeholders that the media should be agents of change when it comes to addressing the issues of sexual and gender based violence. 

Making a statement during a gender training workshop organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Pastoral Center in Makeni over the weekend, Mr. Umaru Fofanah called on agencies who are working with the media to set the stage for the fight against all forms of violence against women and girls, including men also.

He also noted that the media’s role in addressing sexual and gender based violence is still falling behind expectations and not complementary.

The media, he said, is always the first to pick on gender based violations, but it lacks the courage to follow up on the outcome of cases and their consequences.

He called on media practitioners to endeavour to be well informed and capacitated on how to address issues of gender and sexual based violence. He expressed his happiness that the training was taking place in Makeni, as it is the area in the country which has reportedly taken the recent lead in sexual and gender based violence incidents.

He also commended the UNDP for launching the “Road to justice,” a manual guide for the media to report on sexual and gender based violence.

Making a statement, the Country Director of UNDP, Ms. Mia Seppo, said one of their focuses as working partners is the media because of the vital role it plays in peace and development.

He noted that the media has an integral role to play in reducing all forms of violence against women and girls.

She also expressed her concern that in a country where women and girls continue to suffer violence, it will discourage women to showcase their potential in taking part in active politics and decision making because of the abuse they have suffered.

She appealed to the media to work with her office and help address the issues across the country.

In her statement, the Head of the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police, Mrs. Isha Bangura, said the Police have the sole mandate to handle all sexual and gender based violence cases and enforce the law upon prosecution.

She noted that the media should not be the Judge in sexual and gender based violence cases but they should come to the Police when they want to take up such cases as there have been media reports that are not correct which make their work very difficult.

Meanwhile, she said they will ensure to work cordially with the media as they complement each other. The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, (SLAJ), has told a cross section of journalists, civil society activities and other stakeholders that the media should be agents of change when it comes to addressing the issues of sexual and gender based violence.

Making a statement during a gender training workshop organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Pastoral Center in Makeni over the weekend, Mr. Umaru Fofanah called on agencies who are working with the media to set the stage for the fight against all forms of violence against women and girls, including men also.

He also noted that the media’s role in addressing sexual and gender based violence is still falling behind expectations and not complementary.

The media, he said, is always the first to pick on gender based violations, but it lacks the courage to follow up on the outcome of cases and their consequences.

He called on media practitioners to endeavour to be well informed and capacitated on how to address issues of gender and sexual based violence. He expressed his happiness that the training was taking place in Makeni, as it is the area in the country which has reportedly taken the recent lead in sexual and gender based violence incidents.

He also commended the UNDP for launching the “Road to justice,” a manual guide for the media to report on sexual and gender based violence.

Making a statement, the Country Director of UNDP, Ms. Mia Seppo, said one of their focuses as working partners is the media because of the vital role it plays in peace and development.

He noted that the media has an integral role to play in reducing all forms of violence against women and girls.

She also expressed her concern that in a country where women and girls continue to suffer violence, it will discourage women to showcase their potential in taking part in active politics and decision making because of the abuse they have suffered.

She appealed to the media to work with her office and help address the issues across the country.

In her statement, the Head of the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police, Mrs. Isha Bangura, said the Police have the sole mandate to handle all sexual and gender based violence cases and enforce the law upon prosecution.

She noted that the media should not be the Judge in sexual and gender based violence cases but they should come to the Police when they want to take up such cases as there have been media reports that are not correct which make their work very difficult.

Meanwhile, she said they will ensure to work cordially with the media as they complement each other.