By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
Women Journalists in Bauchi State have been urged to educate the public on issues of gender based violence through their reports in order to stem the tide in the society.
The Coordinator of the National Human Rigths Commissioner and a legal Practitioner, Yahcit S Dala made the call during a two-day capacity-building workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Climate Change, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) for women journalists in the state.
Participants at the training include media executives and members of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).The training was organized the Ministry of Information and Communication, was held at the American Space, Professor Iya Abubakar Resource Centre, Bauchi.
She said that Gender Based Violence is a Violence committed against a person because of his or her sex or gender, adding that it is forcing another person to do something against his or her will through violence, coercion, threats, deception, cultural expectations or cultural means.
” 0ne in four females experience sexual violence in childhood with approximately 70 percent reporting more than one incident of sexual violence, adding that 5 percent sought help with only 3.5 percent receiving services, according to the National Survey on Violence against Children in Nigeria, 2014″
“According to Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018, 30 percent of girls and Women aged between 15 and 49 are reported to have experienced sexual violence ” She said
Yahcit called on women journalists to go beyond reporting stories on Gender Based Violence and incorporate a holistic approach in their reports defending the victims of GBV,finding out why cases of GBV are rising as well preventing it from occurring and upholding the rigths of the survivor.
She said that the media has the responsibility of educating the public on GBV in order to Influence public opinions and behaviour, change mindsets and influence legislation, policies and practices on GBV through Advocacy.