About 21 per cent of Nigerian women between the ages of 15 and 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence, according to figures highlighted at the launch of a new media initiative on sexual and gender based violence.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, the European Union and International IDEA launched a specialised Media Corps in Abuja to improve the quality and consistency of reporting on abuse.
The programme is intended to help journalists investigate patterns of violence, examine institutional failures and keep attention on cases beyond the initial news cycle.
Participants said sexual and gender based violence remained widespread and could not be addressed by the police and courts alone.
They argued that responsible journalism could expose hidden abuse, challenge harmful social attitudes, amplify survivors’ experiences and put sustained pressure on institutions responsible for prevention and justice.
Journalists participating in the initiative will receive guidance on the legal, psychological and social dimensions of abuse.
The programme also emphasises survivor dignity, privacy, due process and the need to avoid sensational reporting that could cause additional trauma.
Stakeholders noted that fear, stigma, victim blaming and doubts about access to justice often discourage survivors from reporting abuse.
NAPTIP said closer cooperation among the media, public institutions and civil society could also improve understanding of the relationship between trafficking, sexual exploitation and other forms of gender based violence.
Organisers said the long term goal was to shift media coverage from isolated reports of individual incidents toward sustained accountability journalism capable of exposing systemic failures and strengthening protection for survivors.
