Monika Amunyela
Journalists from various media institutions on Tuesday participated in a training session on ethical reporting on gender-based violence. The training was themed “GBV Do No Harm Training Session.”
Organised in partnership with the United Nations and its national stakeholders, the training focused on equipping journalists with practical tools to report on gender-based violence in a sensitive and accurate, while preventing further harm towards survivors.
The participating journalists were reminded that gender-based violence remains a widespread challenge in Namibia and across the southern African region, affecting women and children disproportionately.
The session explored the various forms of gender-based violence, including physical, sexual, psychological, economic and digital violence, as well as harmful practices such as child marriage and trafficking in persons.
The facilitators highlighted that reported cases represent only a small portion of the problem, as many incidents go unreported due to stigma, fear and lack of access to services.
Root causes of gender-based violence were highlighted extensively as these are the topics that need to be tackled for a solution against GBV, particularly gender inequality, abuse of power and harmful patriarchal norms, which continue to drive violence despite strong legal and policy frameworks.
The training also examined how media shapes public’s perception. Journalists were cautioned against sensational reporting, which can retraumatise survivors and alter the public’s understanding of gender-based violence. Instead, they were encouraged to apply ethical principles that prioritise dignity, accuracy and context in their reporting.
Emerging challenges related to digital platforms and artificial intelligence were also discussed as this year’s 16 days of activism theme, with attention given to technology facilitated gender-based violence and the responsibility of journalists to prevent the spread of harmful or misleading content online.
The session highlighted Namibia’s national response to gender-based violence, including prevention efforts, coordination mechanisms and support services provided through health, police, justice and psychosocial sectors.
The facilitators and participants also engaged in a thought-provoking conversation about the boy child and his upbringing, stating that addressing patriarchal norms instilled in male children and ensuring equal responses to violence against boys would mark the beginning of meaningful change.