When we train, an impactful change is realized! We bring you a series of success stories resultant from various trainings Uganda Media Women’s Association has done across the country on gender issues.
The annual 2020 crime report by Uganda Police indicates that over 17,000 people were victims of domestic Violence which undeniably reflects that magnitude of gender-based violence. Whereas these figures are a projection of GBV, what role has the media played in reporting, informing and educating the public against the gravity of this issue.
Uganda Media Women’s Association through its capacity building activities educates and equips journalists with skills on Gender-based Violence and Gender Sensitive reporting.
Below we insightfully walk you through a series of change on gender awareness and responsiveness from media beneficiaries of our trainings across the country:
Success stories on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
Biira Maureen, Reporter, Messiah Radio
Am so grateful for being part of this training. This has been my first time to attend a training of this kind. The trainers sounded very knowledgeable, and also enthusiastic about the topic and changing our mindset. This has kept me attentive throughout.
I like the way they brought us in the middle of the problem, and later being told we are the solution. I felt embarrassed at first but later felt empowered. I felt big and confident when I was reminded about the power we have as a media. Can you imagine that before the training, I did not realize that the media has a central role in fighting VAWG or GBV in general? And yet through a pen or a microphone, I can change the current narratives that is not sensitive to the female gender. I cannot forget when we were told to review the day’s paper and we found it very biased against women.
Personally, I am a victim of sexual harassment. I was denied an internship placement in a Kampala based NGO just because I refused to have sex with one of the bosses. This frustrated my dream of working in a communications department until I found refuge in being a journalist.
Now I can imagine how many girls lose their dreams for not offering sex to their would-be bosses and how many get infected with STDs because they accepted to offer sex for a job. Now that I know how powerful I can be in fighting injustices, I believe I am going to do better and make Uganda a better place to stay.
I shall start by ensuring that the stories I do especially about Gender based violence are covered to the last detail and shall do follow up till justice is served. I shall no longer stop at covering or exposing an incident. This training has shown me that it is important to go beyond an event, and my comfort zone. And that GBV stories are everywhere and impact everyone.
Authored by Namata Brenda and Aguti Moureen
