By Mabinty M. Kamara
An advocacy organization, Men Association for Gender Equality, Sierra Leone (MAGE-SL) in partnership with a South Africa based orgnisation SONKE Gender Justice Network has engaged journalists and religious leaders on issues around sexual and gender based violence in Sierra Leone.
The engagement according to officials is the last of a four year project that has been implemented in Sierra Leone targeted at increasing the interest and improving the skills of journalists in reporting on gender based violence. And for the religious leaders to be actively involved in the fight against sexual exploitation and domestic violence.
Speaking to Politico, the Executive Director of MAGE-SL, Tamba David Makieu said that the project was targeted at Faith leaders, traditional leaders and the media because they are the social gate keepers to the public. “Meaning you cannot get an information down to the community people without these people. They play a very pivotal role. For instance, many people get their first hand information from their community radio, same as their religious leaders, so once we are able to get these people orientated to know what GBV issues are and how they can be addressed, they will be able to pass it on,” he said.
He added that despite the challenges posed by both the Ebola epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with some cultural challenges, they have been able to record success in their Implementation in terms of getting especially the faith leaders to join in the elimination of sexual and gender based violence using their platforms.
He said apart from engaging the faith leaders, traditional leaders and the media, the project also has a youth component that targets the minds of community youths and policy makers and institutions such as the justice sector, Parliament and the Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs.
In his statement, the Social Structural Process Coordinator, Sonke Gender Justice Vusi Cebe Khulu said they targeted Sierra Leone with the project because of its post-conflict experience and its potential effects on women and girls in terms of their dignity. He said in Sierra Leone like in many other parts of Africa where they have implemented, SGBV cases are alarming and a major concern to society and hence needed to be addressed with collective efforts.
The participants acknowledged the need and importance of such training in their daily reporting and interactions with the communities.
Kadiatu Kargbo, one of the trainees said being part of the program has increased her interest and knowledge in reporting SGBV cases. However, she said justice delivery, willingness of sources to speak on their ordeals and compromise has collectively become a discouraging factor for them as journalists.
“You can have all the zeal and passion to pursue a particular story only to be told in the end that we have settled it as a family. It happened to me in an alleged sexual penetration case in my community,” she said.
Copyright © Politico Online (05/10/21)
