By Lola Seriki-Idahosa, Kaduna, Northwest
Lizzy Anche Foundation in collaboration with The Nigerian Women Trust Fund and Ford Foundation has trained over fifty Female Journalists on Capacity Building workshop on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Sexual and Bender-based violence (SGBV) in kaduna
The 3-day Capacity Building workshop on Reporting and production of radio program on VAWG/SGBV held at the Centre for Study And Resolution of Domestic Violence (CERSDOV) hall, Rigachikun, Kaduna.
The capacity building workshop which commenced on Wednesday with training of over 50 Media women, they include female reporters drawn from various radio station, print media, online media, Civil Society Organizations, Care Givers, Non Governmental organizations (NGO) on how to present radio program and ways to report Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
In her presentation with topic, ‘Trauma Informed Reporting Respecting Survivor Privacy and Confidentiality’ by Kaneng Rwang Pam advised female journalists to Respect survivor privacy and confidentiality is vital in combating
sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and violence against women
and girls (VAWG) in Nigeria.
Urging them to Create a safe and supportive environment requires in upholding the privacy and confidentiality of survivors adding that the presentation highlights the significance of survivor privacy and confidentiality, offers practical steps for maintaining confidentiality.
According to her, “Addressing
Intersectionality refers to the
Intersectionality in SGBV and VAWG Programming interconnected nature of social identities and the ways in which different forms of discrimination and disadvantage intersect and interact”.
“It recognizes that individuals can experience compounded marginalization due to the intersections of various social identities”.
Kaneng Rwang Pam In her second presentation on ‘Program Conception and Developing formats (Incorporating survivor stories and testimonials to convey the impact of SGBV and VAWG in Nigeria)” said Incorporating survivor stories and testimonials is a powerful tool in the SGBV and VAWG radio program.
She said “Humanize the issue, break the silence, and inspire hope, Prioritize informed consent, ethical considerations and safeguarding measures, Utilize case studies and testimonials to educate and
foster empathy, Amplify survivor voices for empowerment and broader
impact.
On her Interview Techniques and Empathetic Storytelling presentation Kaneng Rwang Pam Said Creating Meaningful Change through Narratives
Accurate, sensitive, and engaging narratives, Collaboration with stakeholders to ensure impact and accuracy, Promoting understanding,
empathy, and positive social
change.
On Why radio she said the importance of radio in addressing SGBV and VAWG in Nigeria serves as a vital tool for disseminating information and raising awareness about SGBV and VAWG.
Attributes It reaches to both urban and rural populations, making it effective for educating communities about the
causes, consequences, and prevention of such violence.
She said Radio programs, public service announcements, and interviews share information about helplines, support services and legal resources, empowering survivors and encouraging them to seek help.
She also advised journalists to make use of the digital accessibility, “Reach and Accessibility: Technology and Digital Accessibility Leveraging online platforms, social media, and mobile applications can bridge the information gap and reach a wider audience.
“Developing websites and helplines
dedicated to providing information and
support for survivors, Ensuring resources are designed with inclusivity in mind, considering language, literacy levels, and accessibility for individuals with disabilities”. She said.
According to her, “the Responsibility of Radio Programme Producers Empowering Survivor Voices, by Providing platforms for survivors to share their stories and experiences, reducing stigma and raising awareness, Creating a safe and supportive environment, respecting survivors’ agency and autonomy. Offering additional resources and referrals to survivors, connecting them with support services”.
Asides the highlighted, she noted that women are often projected as victims and while perpetuators of crime are hidden, the survivors, particularly females are splashed all over the media.
According to her, SGBV is the “other pandemic which happens everywhere in the world”.
In her presentation, “Policy Analysis on Criminal Aspect of GBV by Professor Hauwa’u Evelyn Yusuf, highlights the law aspect, charge journalists to equip themselves on the law.
According to her, “you have to know what the law says to each offense and to use them to your advantage, what happened to the survivor is very important”
Consequently, the Executive Director of Lizzy Anche Foundation said the foundation focus more on violence against women and girls, noting that culture and religion “are the big elephants while reporting related issues.”
She asked that media reports showcase the strength of women through professionalism and as result show the full picture of the society by not neglecting women.
Lizzy Anche said the aim of the programme is to empower female reporters with skills to address Gender Based Violence activities in Kaduna state and give attention to issues of SGBV in Nigeria.
“The training is targeted at female reporters equipping them with leadership potentials and support them with training to promote issues important to women”, he said.
She noted that beneficiaries are expected to apply skills acquired from the training in their daily job.
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is violence committed against a person because of his or her sex or gender. It is forcing another person to do something against his or her will through violence, coercion, threats, deception, cultural expectations, or economic means. Although the majority of victims and survivors of SGBV are girls and women, boys and men can also be harmed by SGBV.
It will be recalled that Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Haringey Council have adopted the definition from the United Nations Declaration (1993) on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, in which Article 1 defines Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) as:
“Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”Back to top
The different types of Violence Against Women and Girls VAWG is an umbrella term which includes the following types of abuses, Domestic violence and abuse ([external link)
Coercive and Controlling behaviour (external link)
Sexual violence, abuse and exploitation (external link)
Including: rape, forced prostitution, Sexual harassment (external link)
Stalking (external link)
Crimes committed in the name of “honour” – so-called ‘honour based violence’ (external link)
Harmful Practices (external link)
Including: Forced marriage (external link)
Female genital mutilation (external link)
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
Gendered Gang Violence (girls in gangs)
Sponsors of the capacity building workshop includes Ford Foundation and The Nigerian women trust fund (NWTF), NWTF mission is to increase participation and inclusion of women, The inclusion of women in the democratic spaces remains a major bridge to cross in the efforts to effectively address the exclusion of women in elective and representative governance in Nigeria (Revised IGP) Gender equality & women’s empowerment are basic human rights that lie at the heart of equitable development, so all state and non-state actors must promote gender equality through their institutional policies and practices.
Ford Foundation specialities include Civic Engagement, Government Creativity and Free Expression Future of Work Advancing human achievement Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice Internet Freedom Just Cities and Regions Natural Resources and Climate Change Mission Investments.
