Media Professionals Urged to Take Gender-Based Violence Seriously.

Accra: Mercy C. Adjabeng, Convenor of the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA), has called on media professionals to stop trivializing Gender-Based Violence (GBV). She emphasized that such issues must be taken seriously due to the crisis nature of violence against women and girls. Ms. Adjabeng made this call during a Media Advocacy Forum organized by AWMA in Accra.According to Ghana News Agency, the forum, supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), was held in observance of the 2024 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. This campaign focuses on the disproportionate impact of GBV on women and girls, under the theme: 'Voices for Change: Transforming Media Narratives.' Ms. Adjabeng highlighted that the media, as an influential platform for informing the public and shaping opinions, often trivializes violence by sensationalizing it, resorting to victim-blaming, or misrepresenting the issue.She noted that these practices perpetuate harmful stereoty pes, protect offenders, hinder accountability, and prevent survivors from receiving justice. Ms. Adjabeng urged media practitioners to remain within their professional boundaries and use their platforms responsibly. She stressed that the media should raise awareness, provide survivors with a platform to share their stories, and amplify the voices of those working to end GBV.Professor Audrey Gazdekpo, from the Information and Communication Studies Department at the University of Ghana, shared recent research indicating that media coverage often treats violence as an individual issue rather than a societal problem. She also pointed out the unregulated nature of social media, which has become a source of disinformation, harassment, and cyberbullying. Prof. Gazdekpo called for a comprehensive approach to addressing GBV, particularly in the digital space, with a focus on the challenges faced by female journalists and the implications for gender diversity in media.She cited a UNESCO survey revealing that 73 per cent of female journalists had experienced online violence, impacting their physical and mental health. This has led to self-censorship, avoidance of online interactions, and a lack of reporting of incidents to employers, who often provide inadequate responses. The survey also found that 38 percent of respondents became less visible in their work, 11 percent missed work, and 4 percent quit their jobs due to online violence.The Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Ghana, committed to empowering and networking women in media across Africa. The organization advocates for greater representation and participation of women in media to increase their visibility and influence.