GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: LIZZY ANCHE FOUNDATION HARPS ON ADEQUATE REPORTAGE  … trains 50 CSOs, Journalists

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ZAINAB TANIMU
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GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: LIZZY ANCHE FOUNDATION HARPS ON ADEQUATE REPORTAGE

… trains 50 CSOs, Journalists

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

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A total of Fifty Women on Wednesday, converged on Centre for  Study  And Resolution of Domestic Violence (CERSDOV)  Rigachukeu, Kaduna for a 3day training on Gender- Based Violence.

Consultant/Strategic, Lizzy Anche foundation,  Emmanuel Abba Great, welcoming the participants in his opening remark charged them to make good  use of the opportunity availed them to improve themselves.

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Their cooperation he described as vital in charting a way forward in the fight against the incessant cases of Gender- based violence in the society.

The Programme  Officer LIZZY ANCHE FOUNDATION, Josephine Bitsak Mark, speaking on behalf of the Executive Director, said the workshop was meant to train women journalists and other people in media related organizations on proper reportage and documentation of cases related to domestic and gender based violence.

The training she added is to help create awareness in the society as well as geared towards policy makers with a view to finding lasting solutions to the menace.

The foundation according to her has amongst others engaged in training, sensitization and advocacy programmes to help broaden peoples minds in order to change their mind sets concerning all forms of gender – based violence.

Its primary focus has been on women and girls and the vision is that of seeing a society where all girls are fully empowered to excel.

Lizzy Anche foundation has been in existence since 2008.

Josephine while seeking the support of the media in creating more awareness urged every stakeholders and individuals to rise up and fight the scourge.

“When you see something, you say something. All of us, we owe it to the society to be accountable in such matters. We are not supposed to see those things and turn deaf ear. We should not be enablers of sexual abuse, of gender – based violence. It is criminal, it is an offense and we should not aid it and should not abet it in any way.” She sounded.

Participants who were made up of combination of Media practitioners and Representatives of Non -Governmental Organizations (NGOs) were taken through the rudiments of reporting and production of radio programme on VAWG/SGBV.

Facilitators with wealth of experience were drawn across the the state to do justice to the topics.

One of the facilitators, the Executive Director, Centre for  Study  And Resolution of Domestic Violence (CERSDOV), Professor Hauwa Evelyn Yusuf explaining the VAPP law and it applications said VAPP law is an international law which takes care of all forms of domestic violence. Though silent it is about rape it gives provisions on unlawful or forceful eviction.

It is a law one needs to understand very well to be able to apply it.

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She urged all participants to acquaint themselves with the nitty – gritty of the VAPP law in order that they can be able to assist the voiceless in times of need.

“The VAPP law is an international law, a federal and a state law that has been domesticated in Kaduna state after going through several processes. It is a law that covers all forms of violence against our women, girls, children and all persons.  The law is so encompassing that it takes care of a lot of violent cases that can occur either in a place of work or at home or anywhere as long as it is a violence that can be harmful to an individual”.

Prof. Hauwa thanked the outgone governor of Kaduna state Ahmed El- Rufai for domesticating it in Kaduna state.

The VAPP law she said helps them in the actualization of their set goals.

“The VAPP law assists us in achieving what we want to achieve in terms of fighting the rights of humans.

The VAPP law has been domesticated in Kaduna state. We are urging our judges and our prosecutors to begin to prosecute using the VAPP law.”

For instance, Centre for Study And Resolution of Domestic Violence (CERSDOV) is a Non- Governmental Organization that advocates against any harm that can happen to any human being.  It works in the area of protecting human rights. Aside the research work that the center does, it also trains persons interested in becoming experts in gender studies.

Know your SDG 1 and 5. Professor Hauwa emphasized.

SDG Goal 1 calls for an end to poverty in all its manifestations by 2030. It also aims to ensure social protection for the poor and vulnerable, increase access to basic services and support people harmed by climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.
SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality by ending all forms of discrimination, violence and any harmful practices against women and girls. It also calls for the full participation of women and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.
The Centre Manager Salamat Sexual Assault referral centre, SARC Kafanchan Mrs Grace Y. Abbin in her paper presentation, titled, “GBV : The Issues and What Individuals and Society Need to do to Curb the Menace” dwelled on the importance of speaking out when ever there is a case of domestic violence.
Women are exposed to various forms of assaults such as, Sexual assault, Physical  assault, Economic assault, Financial assault, Emotional assault,
Intimidation, Spiritual assault among others.
Many victims in most cases because of stigma she said tend not to open up as such makes it difficult to assist. Cases are best handled when they are reported early. She added.
“The Sexual Assaults Referer Center is  meant for victims and survivors of rape or any form of sexual and gender-based violence. In that centre we do free services for our survivors. Mostly, medical treatment, psychosocial support and optional legal intervention.
It is optional for adults but for children, we try to make sure, by the grace of God, we fight for their rights and move to the end.
“It is optional for adults because there are instances whereby at the end of the day some say they don’t want the case because they don’t want to be announced, or they don’t want stigma or for fear of being attacked after reporting.

“But we try to speak to people that the issue of stigma should not arise because we want to ensure that we have a society free from all forms of assaults. If we cannot work together as a team, how do we achieve that? So we try to say stigma should not be an issue, people should be able to break up from that issue of silence and let’s see how we try to speak up so that our other women and children will be safe.
“Women and children are mostly affected because from our statistics and experience in our centre we have recorded over two thousand six hundred and six women and girls that have been affected. We have a total of three thousand and thirty-one cases of different forms of assaults amongst which, three hundred and twelve were rape cases. Out of the three hundred and twelve, two hundred and twenty-six are all children.
“So, if we don’t speak up, how do we fight it? How do we attain a society free from all forms of assaults?”
Sexual and gender based violence she emphasized has ‘no respect for man, no respect for woman. It has no respect for age, it could be anybody at anytime, that is why if we cannot work together as a team to eliminate it, it will continue.”

As watchdogs of the society, she called on the media to help in creating a lot of  awareness on the need for immediate report of cases to be able to take prompt actions.

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With rape cases there will be need for a referrer whereby doctor will have to check the victim to confirm the level of assault and necessary step to be taken.

Mrs Grace lamented the practice whereby particularly rape cases which are supposedly expected to be reported early enough are given cultural or religious inclinations. Such does not allow for prompt actions to be taken.

She decried such abominable acts whereby a father have sexual act with daughter, relatives raping their siblings and all manners of ungodly acts being faced by women, all hands she called must be on deck to rid the society of all forms of injustices being meted on women.

Her centre she said works with various stakeholders such as religious bodies, security agencies, other NGOs, CSOs.

Media and Communications Consultant, Mrs Kaneng Rwang-Pam who dwelled on Interview Techniques and emphatic storytelling exposed participants to various forms of techniques to enrich production of radio programmes.
The choice of radio as best medium for SGBV/VAWG programme  she explained is because it provides privacy to the survivors/victims of violence. Not only  that, it is easily accessible and has  wider outreach.
Mrs Kaneng urged participants to as a matter of principles always consider ‘the target audience’ whenever a programme is being designed as that will determine what way to go.
The content must have sense of depth and appeal.  It should be relevant,  language simple, it should have focus, and also have clarity of purpose. Much so, the script aside that of portraying challenges, should be solution driven.
Participants were also taught the methodology of seeking information from victims/survivors of violence based cases, (e.g rape cases).
She emphasized on the need to make them comfortable. The interviewer should be seen as a friend because these group of people go through a lot of trauma and therefore need to build their confidence to be able to get the desired information.
Kenen however cautioned not to be emotionally carried away in the curse of interrogation. Rather than showing sympathy when relating with them, it is better to show empathy.
“You listen, you look, you link. It is very important.”
Explaining further,
When producing a Programme or reporting, there is need to detach oneself from the report. There is also need for accuracy, balance and objectivity.
Importantly, production should showcase some kind of resilience and empowerment to motivate hopes.
The ethics of the profession should be maintained to the letter. She stressed.

Earlier in her good will message, the

representative of the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Grant Manager, Mrs  Bosede Jayeola commended the good work of Anche foundation.
The issue of violence against women she said is rampant which calls for women raising their voices while the media helps in giving the necessary support to ease the job.
“Women participation is key. We need to rise up and begin to speak women” She said.

Also adding her voice, the Executive Director, Africa Media Development Foundation, Mrs Sekyen Dadik charged every individual to be up and doing so as to surmount the problem.

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The three day workshop ended with group work and a zoom meeting.

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