ISMPH, UNFPA train journalists on reporting GBV. SRHR survivors, ethics in Kaduna
Kaduna based Journalists from across different media organizations have completed 2days intensive training on reporting Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and the ethical issues and principles involved.
The two-days training workshop which commenced on Friday 5th to Saturday 6th December 2025, was aimed at creating awareness and promoting GBV and SRHR through media reportage without causing more harm to survivors, most especially woman and girls.
The training, organized by the International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH) with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) positions journalists as strategic actors capable of influencing policy, shaping public opinion, and dismantling harmful norms through their reportage.
Coming amid the global 16 Days Activism Against GBV, the initiative is part of a broader push to ensure the media becomes a powerful ally in confronting injustice, amplifying survivor voices, and driving accountability at all levels.
The Executive Director, ISMPH Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, in a virtual video address, said the Nigerian media has a critical responsibility to spotlight uncomfortable truths and elevate conversations that can lead to real change.
Mrs. Makanjuola however noted that insensitive or poorly framed stories often deepen stigma and silence survivors, while accurate, humane reporting could break cycles of abuse.
While she urged journalists to challenge stereotypes, dig deeper, and used local languages to reach communities where harmful practices persist, the ED expressed optimism that capacity-building effort would shift newsroom culture and strengthen advocacy around women’s rights.
Representative of UNFPA, Dr. Elvis Evborein, described perpetrators of GBV as “formidable forces,” stressing that journalists must become “equally formidable partners” in exposing abuse and championing justice.
He said the engagement formed part of the agency’s broader mission to promote healthy and productive lives, reduce maternal mortality, and advance gender equality across communities.
Dr. Evborein explained that many perpetrators of GBV wield significant psychological, social, or economic power over their victims, leaving survivors feeling helpless and unable to seek help on their own.
He noted that the training aligned with global efforts to end GBV and early child marriage, adding that strengthened reporting would make it harder for abusers to hide behind silence or cultural norms.
“Journalists are being armed with practical tools for trauma-informed reporting, a deeper understanding of SRHR, and strategies for uncovering systemic drivers of violence.
The sessions cover sensitive interviewing, debunking misinformation, and spotting red flags that often go unnoticed in everyday reporting.
Media participants alluded to the fact that the training filled a long-standing knowledge gap and will enable them to produce more impactful, survivor-centered stories that push for prevention, accountability, and community protection.
Accordingly, organisers said the ripple effect of improved reporting will be far-reaching: better-informed audiences, more responsive institutions, and increased pressure on policymakers to act.
They emphasized that the initiative underscores the commitment of UNFPA and ISMPH to fostering a media landscape that not only informs, but actively contributes to ending GBV and advancing SRHR helping build a safer, more just society for women and girls in Kaduna and across Nigeria.
Related to this topic:
