The training, jointly organised by the NUSOJ and the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development (MoWHRD) in partnership with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), aimed at improving skills and knowledge of local journalists when reporting on sexual and gender violence and providing them with valuable resources.
Deq Sulieman Yusuf, Director General of MoWHRD, expressed serious concerns about the increasing number of SGBV cases in Somalia and urged the national media and journalists to do their utmost to raise awareness about this problem.
Yusuf highlighted the role of media in educating society and stressed the importance of using the correct words and avoid stigmatization, while alleging that “perpetrators must be named and shamed”. Journalists must try to get all the facts of any SBGV case before reporting, he added.
In his opening remarks, NUSOJ Secretary-General Omar Faruk Osman said journalists have a role to play in providing accurate reporting to the public. “Journalists must lead a campaign on SGBV through increased reportage to eliminate the practice because the work of the media can bring people together to put an end to all forms of discrimination and negative stereotypes against women and girls.”
Osman expressed hope that after the training journalists will play a pivotal role in eradicating SGBV in Somalia.
Participants said the training was timely, noting that incidences of SBGV occur frequently. The training, which is first of a series of courses, was facilitated by veteran former BBC journalist Yusuf Hassan Isaq.