Media practitioners have been charged to play active roles in advocating against sexual and gender based violence in Nigeria.
The call was made by Lawal Amodu, Senior Programs officer, African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) when speaking at a capacity building for media houses on ethical and gender sensitive reporting.
The capacity building was organized by Centre LSD, one of the implementing organizations of the EU Spotlight Initiative to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls project.
Amodu noted that the increase in the cases of sexual and gender based violence has led to the need for a conscious effort by media practitioners to join the campaign on eliminating all forms of violence against women.
Amodu added that, “media professionals have been doing this before but this is the time to intensify efforts in reporting.”
On his part, Vincent Dania, Programmes Officer, Centre LSD, explained the need to adopt equity which according to him is a means to achieving equality in the society.
Also speaking at the event, Nonso Ibegwam, Co-founder ATLAS Initiative, explained that it is important to engage traditional rulers on campaign to end sexual and gender based violence.
He added that the traditional leaders are opinion leaders and could influence public perception, thus the need to engage them.
At the end of the event, journalists committed to be involved in eradicating violence against women.