Ibadan: The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has called for collaboration among media, government agencies, and other stakeholders to combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the appeal was made by NAPTIP Director-General, Mrs. Binta Bello, during the inauguration of a two-day capacity-building workshop for 20 selected journalists in Oyo State, aimed at integrating them into the SGBV Media Corps. The event took place on Wednesday in Ibadan, in collaboration with the European Union Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) Programme, implemented by International IDEA.
Addressing the participants, Bello, represented by NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Vincent Adekoye, highlighted that SGBV is a prevalent human rights violation in Nigeria. She pointed out that this abuse affects individuals regardless of age, ethnicity, or geography, impacting women, girls, boys, and men, and leaving enduring physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences.
Bello noted that many survivors of SGBV do not report these incidents due to fear, stigma, lack of societal trust, or economic reliance on their abusers. She emphasized the need for a unified response involving government, law enforcement, health and social services, educational institutions, civil society, technology platforms, and the media to tackle SGBV effectively.
Bello urged journalists to raise awareness responsibly, ensuring that their reporting does not sensationalize or re-traumatize survivors. She stressed the importance of holding institutions and perpetrators accountable through ethical reporting, informing the public about available services and rights, and challenging harmful narratives and stigmas that silence survivors.
Mrs. Wynyfred Achu-Egbuson, Civil Society and Community Mobilisation Specialist for the ESGBV programme at International IDEA, also addressed the workshop. She stated that the training aimed to enhance public engagement on SGBV issues in the Federal Capital Territory and the states of Benue, Kaduna, and Oyo. Achu-Egbuson emphasized the importance of building a community of media practitioners capable of reporting SGBV issues accurately, ethically, and with a focus on survivors.
In her remarks, Mrs. Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, the SGBV Media Lead Facilitator, highlighted the underreporting of SGBV victims in Nigeria. She stated that the newly established SGBV Media Corps in Oyo State would play a crucial role in ensuring accurate reporting, emphasizing survivor-centered narratives, and challenging cultural norms. Adewale-Gabriel pointed out that many SGBV incidents occur in rural communities, where the media’s role is vital in avoiding sensationalism and preventing the blaming of survivors.