GIZ has organized a three-day training workshop on sexual corruption for a group of female journalists. The workshop, which built on earlier training by the Media Foundation for West Africa on gender-sensitive reporting, highlighted the nature, impact, and challenges of addressing sexual corruption.
Global, regional, and national statistics underscore the prevalence of this issue. A 2019 UNDP Gender and Corruption Report revealed that 1 in 5 women worldwide face sexual harassment or corruption when accessing public services, such as education or healthcare. Similarly, a Transparency International survey from 2020 found that 1 in 10 women in sub-Saharan Africa faced sexual demands when seeking maternal healthcare services.
In Ghana, Transparency International reported in 2020 that women seeking maternal healthcare or surgery are sometimes subjected to sexual demands from healthcare providers.
Dr. Aurelia Ayisi, a lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Communications Department and a gender advocate who facilitated the workshop, stressed the critical role journalists play in education and advocacy. She urged participants to practice gender-sensitive reporting by ensuring equal and fair representation of both men and women in their stories.
The three-day event included intensive training sessions. Facilitators explored the legal dimensions of sexual harassment, equipping journalists with skills to identify, report, and address such incidents. They also provided strategies for dealing with unwanted advances and documenting evidence for legal action.
A session on the psychological impact of sexual corruption provided tools for addressing trauma and fostering resilience, empowering journalists to approach survivors with empathy and understanding.
The workshop concluded with a session on ethical reporting, led by Rebecca Ekpe, online editor at GBC Radio and Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Journalist Association. She encouraged journalists to approach the topic with sensitivity, avoid victim-blaming, and ensure the privacy of survivors. Ms. Ekpe also discussed strategies for conducting investigative journalism to expose systemic issues and hold perpetrators accountable.
The training left participants empowered, armed with knowledge and courage to tackle sexual corruption. Determined to break the silence, expose predators, and create a safer, more equitable environment for women, the journalists departed ready to take action and amplify the fight against this pervasive issue.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com | 101.1 MHz | Humul Khrusum Tahiru| Bolgatanga
