In this contemporary world, Gender Based Violence (GBV) is becoming critical and attracting the media everywhere in the world. However, the media should consider the way they report it and conduct their interview with GBV survivors.
The Ethiopian Herald approached the United States of America Assistant Director of the Asia Pacific Programs and Coordinator of International Internships, and Gender Based Violence Activist Teresa Tomassoni, during her two weeks visit to Ethiopia for some guidelines.
For her and in general context, GBV includes physical and psychological aspects of human right violations depending on the sex of the victim.Some of the most common types of GBV in emergency context are rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, physical assault, domestic violence, forced marriage, child marriage, psychological abuse, denial of resources or opportunity or services, trafficking in persons, harmful traditional practices, female infanticide and son preference.
At its best, media reporting on sexual and other forms of GBV in emergency context facilitate advocacy with decision makers and communities to ensure protection for refugees, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups and supports fundraising for comprehensive programs.
Howevwer, she says, “Media reporting in emergency contexts-when it fails to take into account basic ethical and safety principles can also put GBV survivors, their families and those who are helping them at risk.
” Survivors’ best interests need to be prioritized.Teresa notes that any efforts to document GBV for the purposes of media reporting must first prioritize survivors’ safety and best interests. Considerations around the survivors’ interests must take precedence over other objectives including drawing attention to particularly grave GBV violations such as mass rape.
Concretely this means media professionals as well as actors who may be supporting access to survivors must prioritize survivors’ rights to dignity, privacy, confidentiality, safety, security and protection from harm or retribution.They should also consider if and how a story could potentially violate any of these core principles according to Teresa.
According to her, survivors’ best interests are deeply impacted by the context in which a story is reported. Prior to facilitating access and/ or covering any story on GBV, there must be a clear purpose for the story, beyond “human interest” and the implications of publicizing the issue in that context must be carefully considered.
Both those entities that are facilitating access to affected populations and the media professionals who are reporting the story must remain aware of the changing dynamics within crisis affected communities. And the negative impacts that such a singular focus on sexual and other GBV could have on their wellbeing require critical considerations.
The potential positive impact of reporting on GBV for survivors and others within the affected population must be clearly articulated beyond simply raising awareness, promoting an organization to increase their visibility and /or generating greater donor interests.
She also gives the media professionals guiding principles as she is an experienced journalist. She says, “Journalists should avoid judgmental languages.” Writing about a survivor’s history, sexual practices or orientation, what she/he was wearing or doing, or what time the abuse occurred could imply survivor blame. Generally, contextual factors listed need to be avoided in all media reporting.
Additionally, forms of GBV should not be reported as ‘normal’ or part of the culture of the crisis affected context.“Unless justifiably relevant, to the story, survivor and perpetrator ethnicities should not be reported. It is also recommended to avoid using the term “alleged” rape or sexual assault or referring to a survivor as an “accuser” since this could reinforce the disbelief that a crime actually occurred and has the potential to reinforce negative stereotype.” She stressed.
In the same way, she mentioned what should not be reported.“Never report the details that could put survivors at further risk. Names, photographs, or other identifying information of survivors, their family members, or even at times those actors who are providing assistance should not be used.”
Similarly, she encourage that the media professionals should consult GBV experts who are familiar with the context. They also need to provide information on local support services and organizations who are addressing GBV in the context.
Likewise, the GBV activist inform what should be done while interviewing a survivor. Sensitive reporting is ensuring that the media meets the needs of the survivor.When interviewing female survivors, a female interviewer and interpreter should be on hand. It is essential to brief about confidentiality and agrees to it before meeting the interviewee as she/he has the right to refuse. As well, using image, footage and photograph of the survivor requires the consent. It is also important to ensure a secure and safe setting with respectful treatment.
Furthermore, media professionals need to avoid questions, attitudes or comments that are insensitive to cultural values that place an individual or group in danger such as humiliation.Or probing for details that reactivate an individuals or group’s pain and grief which is associated with their exposure to GBV must be excluded, Teresa elaborates.
To sum up, the media professionals need to pay attention to the safety and rights of the GBV survivors. They should not expose the secret of the survivor and avoid any further aggressions on them and themselves. As well, it should not be only the responsibility of the media and the survivors to expose crimes related to GBV, but also that of all the stakeholders like health professionals, police, government officials and the community at large. There must also be continuous awareness creation.
The Ethiopian Herald, December 21/2018
BY DIRRIBA TESHOME
