MONROVIA, LIBERIA –The Female Journalist Association of Liberia (FeJAL) and partners are calling for the establishment of a section in newsrooms of various media institutions to focus on issues of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
During an online discussion Friday on the role of the media in reporting SGBV issues, FeJAL President, Siatta Scott-Johnson said the SGBV desk will focus on reporting and documenting all aspects of SGBV.
According to Mrs. Scott-Johnson, the reporter in charge of the SGBV desk will serve as liaison between the media institution and gender actors.
“This reporter will serve as a liaison between you and all the stakeholders involve in the SGBV sector,” the FeJAL President said, adding “That person is responsible to compile and have documents to facilitate your work.”
Also speaking, an international media development and communication specialist and consultant with FeJAL on the implementation of the EU/UN Government of Liberia Spotlight Initiative, Maureen Sieh, stressed the need for journalists to consistently report and follow-up on SGBV issues.
Madam Sieh said: “Because a lot of the time you just report the case and you just leave it there. There’s no follow-up, there’s nobody there who can provide some context to the story and that’s what lacking in a lot of our reporting when it comes to SGBV.”
Madam Sieh admonished journalists to keep learning about SGBV and acquainting themselves with all of the sources.
Friday’s online discussion was hosted by theFemale Journalist Association of Liberia (FeJAL) with funding from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative through the UN Women and brought together journalists and media executives.
