LAGOS CONDUCTS TRAINING FOR MEDIA PRACTITIONERS 

24/02/24

PRESS RELEASE

DANIELS OG TO

Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, has advocated a change in mindset and reporting concerning Domestic and sexual violence crimes in the media.  

The  Executive Secretary, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi stated this at a One-Day training on Investigating and Reporting Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Lagos, organized for Media Practitioners drawn from the various Media Houses and Online Media platforms at the LCCI conference center on the 22nd of February, 2024. 

According to her,  “There was a need to build the ability of the media to report Sexual and Gender-Based violence cases in a more gender-sensitive approach”.

 Emphasizing the right choice of words used whilst reporting, especially for headlines, is of utmost importance in sending a deterrence message and not overly sensationalizing the reporting of Domestic and Sexual violence cases in the press. 

Vivour-Adeniyi reiterated the fact that the media serve as a powerful disseminator of information, and therefore holds a crucial role in shaping perceptions, influencing attitudes, and catalyzing societal change. 

Media practitioners serve as the conduits through which stories are told, truths are uncovered, and voices are amplified. Yet, with this profound influence comes a weighty responsibility—a responsibility to uphold the principles of ethical journalism, to safeguard the dignity of survivors, and to foster a culture of empathy, understanding, and accountability. 

Also at the event, the Director of Administration, Centre for Women’s Health and Information, Atinuke Odukoya, said the training was critical because it would help media practitioners become more informed about the intricacies of Gender Based Violence, nuances as well as the different forms of violence. The challenges victims and survivors experience in their quest for justice

“The Media is powerful and it can change people’s perception, and tell us what our norms are in the society by reporting it”.  Odukoya added.

Odukoya, who said that all hands must be on deck to fight the dehumanization and molestation of girls and women in society, urged the media personnel to see themselves as duty bearers, adding that we must all play our role if we are to rid the vicious menace out of our society.

On his part, The Head of the Community Engagement Department, DSVA, Damilare Adewusi informed the participants of the various support services the State Government provides freely for the Lagosians, ranging from medical, legal services, empowerment, psycho-social support, and law enforcement.

He further noted that the zero-tolerance stance by the State government is hewn to ensure that all crimes must be subjugated, and survivors get Justice for crimes perpetrated against them.

Understanding the relevant laws by Tope Oyedija, Introduction to Sexual and Gender Based Violence by Atinuke Odukoya, Exploring Existing State Structures and Services for Survivors of Rape, Domestic Violence and Child Abuse by Damilare Adewusi and Best Practices for Reporting Sexual and Gender-Based Violence by Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni were sessions delivered to the media practitioners at the event.

A Handbook for Media  Practitioners on 

Best Practices for  Reporting 

Sexual and Gender-Based violence was sent to the Media Representatives at the event.