Monrovia – In the wake of increased cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) across the country, 20 Liberian journalists have begun benefiting from a three-day training aimed at strengthening their capacities in reporting and documenting SGBV and other harmful traditional practices.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected] & Alline Dunbar, [email protected]
The training is also intended to train journalists in highlighting other sensitive issues surrounding women’s rights at the national and sub-national level and to improve coordination amongst media organizations to promote quality reporting on SGBV cases.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop in Monrovia, ActionAid’s Head of Programs and Policy, Patience Landford noted that the activity is also part of a three-year project sponsored by the European Union that is being implemented in Gbarpolu, Margibi and Montserrado Counties.
She noted that as ActionAid and partners highlight SGBV cases, the media has a pivotal role by ensuring that the program is result oriented.
“The Media plays a very key role not only in reporting SGBV cases but holding stakeholders including ActionAid accountable with the promises we make to the communities and beneficiaries that we worked with,” she noted.
Also Speaking, the Program Coordinator of ActionAid, Jestina Kanneh revealed that the program’s overall objective is to enhance protection from sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence including rape, domestic violence, force-marriage and female genital mutilation perpetrated against girls and women in Liberia.
The program, she furthered, will benefit 52,176 women, girls, and sexual minorities in eight communities in the three counties within a three-year period beginning September 2017.
She said ActionAid is currently collaborating with several implementing partners including Community Healthcare Initiatives (CHI) and providing assistance to survivors of SGBV in Liberia through advocacy for the implementation of laws protecting women.
Expected results of the program include building confidence among women and girls in reporting on sexual violence within their communities while gaining improved economic independence.
Meanwhile, day-one of the training, which ends Friday, May 24, focused on the contextual analysis of SGBV situations and introduction to Women’s Rights Concept and Gender Equality Framework.
Journalists, who are attending the event are from 10 print and electronic media outlets.
The project is geared towards collaborating with stakeholders and duty bearers to be able to put protection mechanisms in place to help women.