The Director General of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Stanley Similo, highlighted the importance of ethical reporting on stories related to gender-based violence (GBV) as well as protecting the identity and dignity of victims despite their age, race or gender.

He stated this at the official opening of the Journalist GBV 'Do No Harm' Training Session workshop today in the capital.

The one-day workshop is part of an ongoing partnership between the Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA), the nbc and the United Nations (UN).

It is aimed at promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by covering stories and by empowering and equiping journalist with the tools to report accurately and responsibly. 

Similo urged ethical use of graphic material as well as literature when reporting on GBV-related matters, as this could potentially lead to traumatisation or lead to long-term mental issues.

"The pictures that you use are those that will determine how we as recipients will see how we are handling the issue of gender-based violence. If we are sensational in our reporting, then people will not see anything good about what we do. However, if we say we're going to be telling stories so that we can educate people about this evil, then we are likely to change perceptions in terms of how we should be approaching this."

UN Resident Coordinator Hopolang Phororo pointed out the importance of not just ethical reporting but also educating the public about the root causes of gender-based violence, as well as promoting solutions-driven and inclusive journalism.

"This session is significant because it sits at the intersection of two fundamental pillars of a healthy society: a free, responsible, and ethical press and the fundamental human right of every person, particularly every woman and girl, to live a life free from violence. Convened under the UN and the Southern African Broadcasting Association partnership, it forms part of a regional collaboration to strengthen ethical, responsible, and solutions-driven journalism across Southern Africa, contributing to the acceleration of the sustainable development goals in the region."

The training was attended by nbc staff from various media departments.