Somalia: NUSOJ organises training on reporting on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

In a bid to eradicate sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) organised in Mogadishu a three-day training for 50 journalists to help them better report on this issue. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) praises the union’s initiative in raising public and media awareness over gender-based violence in Somalia.

Credits: NUSOJ

The training, jointly organised by the NUSOJ and the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development (MoWHRD) in partnership with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), aimed at improving skills and knowledge of local journalists when reporting on sexual and gender violence and providing them with valuable resources.

 Deq Sulieman Yusuf, Director General of MoWHRD, expressed serious concerns about the increasing number of SGBV cases in Somalia and urged the national media and journalists to do their utmost to raise awareness about this problem.

 

Yusuf highlighted the role of media in educating society and stressed the importance of using the correct words and avoid stigmatization, while alleging that “perpetrators must be named and shamed”. Journalists must try to get all the facts of any SBGV case before reporting, he added.

In his opening remarks, NUSOJ Secretary-General Omar Faruk Osman said journalists have a role to play in providing accurate reporting to the public. “Journalists must lead a campaign on SGBV through increased reportage to eliminate the practice because the work of the media can bring people together to put an end to all forms of discrimination and negative stereotypes against women and girls.”

Osman expressed hope that after the training journalists will play a pivotal role in eradicating SGBV in Somalia.

Participants said the training was timely, noting that incidences of SBGV occur frequently. The training, which is first of a series of courses, was facilitated by veteran former BBC journalist Yusuf Hassan Isaq. 

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

Follow the IFJ on TwitterFacebook and Instagram

Subscribe to IFJ News