Media urged to avoid stigma in GBV, health reports

Media professionals have been urged to avoid using stigmatizing language, images, and narratives when reporting on sexual and reproductive health issues and gender-based violence, according to the Initiative to Resist Institutional Slavery and Exploitation (IRISE). The call came during a roundtable discussion organized by IRISE in Ago, Lagos State.

Omodele Ejeh, the Executive Director of IRISE and country coordinator of One Billion Rising, emphasized the crucial role journalists play in shaping public opinion on sensitive issues. She stressed the need for media to improve the quality of their reports and make their professional voices more visible on social media platforms.

Ejeh highlighted the importance of accurate data sourcing and evidence-based reporting, warning against the use of contradictory visuals that could confuse readers and negatively influence perceptions of sensitive topics. She expressed concern about journalists publishing reports without fully considering the implications of the language and narratives used, as personal perspectives could sometimes sway the way sensitive stories are framed.

Ejeh also addressed the issue of silence surrounding sexual abuse, particularly incest and abuse by family members, calling for stronger efforts to punish perpetrators while supporting survivors and believing their claims.