WA GBV Reporting Fellowship Pitches

The Africa Women Journalism Project, an initiative supported by the International Centre for Journalists in partnership with the Ford Foundation West Africa, invites applications from women journalists from Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. The initiative aims to increase the capacity of women journalists in comprehending the complexities of gender-based violence and exploitation and empowering them to cover gender-related issues. The AWJP seeks 60 women journalists interested in investigating and exposing the extent of gender-based violence in the target countries with a focus on under-reported issues.

December 8, 2023

Child-Friendly Interviewing and GBV Courts, the Right Step in Protecting Women and Children

“Privacy relates to an individual’s ability to determine for themselves, when, how, and for what purpose their information is handled by others. The most painful thing in life is to walk in town knowing very

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December 8, 2023

When abuse becomes the order of the day: The untold stories of women suffering in marriages

“It took me thirteen good years to gather courage to walk out of a hell of a marriage, I was initially afraid but I realised I was gradually losing my sanity so I had no choice than

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December 8, 2023

The Ordeal of Young Zongo Girls in the hands of Sexual Predators

Community Sexual abuse of young girls in the Zongo community has become rampant with perpetrators going unpunished. In recent times, we hear stories of girls as young as 9 months old being sexually abused by fathers,

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November 8, 2023

Tragic deaths reveal gaps in Nigeria’s handling of GBV cases

In June 2021, fourteen-year-old Keren-Happuch Akpagher died after allegedly being raped at her boarding school, sparking outrage due to the circumstances and the challenges faced in seeking justice. Keren’s mother, Mrs Vivien Vihimga Akpagher, revealed that

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November 8, 2023

How River Kaduna Denies Girls Access To Higher Education

After several appeals by residents of Kurmin Kaduna in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State for a junior secondary school, respite came when the Kaduna State Government granted the approval that has seen many

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August 28, 2023

Podcast SUTURA Ep 1: Mécanismes de protections des survivantes de violences

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  • The Africa Women Journalism Project, an initiative supported by the International Centre for Journalists in partnership with the Ford Foundation West Africa, invites applications from women journalists from Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. The initiative aims to increase the capacity of women journalists in comprehending the complexities of gender-based violence and exploitation and empowering  them to cover gender-related issues. The AWJP seeks 60 women journalists interested in investigating and exposing the extent of gender-based violence in the target countries  with a focus on under-reported issues.

    We are particularly interested in stories that cover under-reported topics of violence against women in the region with a specific focus on three countries—Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. The applications will be assessed based on the following

    • relevance of the proposed story, 
    • feasibility, originality of the piece, 
    • motivation expressed in the application and 
    • journalistic approach.

    Successful participants, meeting all requirements, will be shortlisted for a 9-month fellowship. The fellowship includes

    •  on-the-job mentoring,
    •  editorial sessions, 
    • training on gender-based violence, and 
    • financial support.

    WHY is this important now?

    The current situation in West Africa demands attention due to the longstanding issue of gender-based violence, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis has led to a surge in domestic and sexual violence, creating a dual burden for women who are also caretakers of their families. 

    Despite efforts by civil society and public officials, addressing gender-based violence requires sustained, comprehensive solutions. However, the converging crises of the pandemic and gender-based violence highlight the ineffectiveness of one-off, short-term solutions in combating a problem rooted in harmful social and cultural norms.
    Ending gender-based violence and discrimination requires deeper and broader cultural, societal, and political buy-in. The underrepresentation of women in public spaces, combined with their continued objectification in the media undermines any effort to address the deeply entrenched and damaging culture of discrimination. As the “gatekeepers of culture,” the media play a critical and essential role in righting this long-term wrong. 

     

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