Challenges and Ethical Concerns in Reporting on GBV

Gender-based violence (GBV) is not just an issue of statistics; it is a deeply personal and painful reality for countless individuals. Telling these stories is necessary, but how we tell them is just as important.

However, with storytelling comes a heavy responsibility; to inform without exploiting, to raise awareness without causing further harm, and to advocate without silencing the voices that matter most.

Too often, GBV survivors face a second form of victimization, not from their abusers, but from the way their stories are told. Reporting on GBV requires ethical considerations that many overlook:

• Privacy and Safety: Many survivors fear retaliation or societal stigma. Exposing their identities, even unintentionally, can put them in harm’s way. Protecting their anonymity isn’t just ethical; it’s necessary.
• Re-Traumatization: Asking survivors to recount their stories repeatedly, especially in invasive ways, can deepen their trauma. Ethical storytelling prioritizes their well-being over sensationalism.
• Victim-Blaming and Language Sensitivity: How a story is framed can challenge or reinforce harmful narratives. Questions like, "Why didn’t she leave?" or "What was she wearing?" shift blame onto the survivor instead of the abuser. Ethical reporting must place responsibility where it truly belongs.
• Sensationalism vs. Advocacy: Some reports on GBV focus more on shocking details than on meaningful discourse. Graphic descriptions and disturbing imagery may capture attention, but do they serve the survivor? Do they contribute to real change? Ethical storytelling means balancing the need to expose the truth with the responsibility to protect those affected.

Ethical Storytelling

GBV stories must be told with dignity, respect, and impact. Here’s how you should approach GBV storytelling responsibly:

• Consent Comes First: A survivor’s story belongs to them. It should never be told without their full, informed consent. If they choose to share, they should have control over how much is revealed and how it is framed.
• Language Matters: Use words that validate, uplift, and empower. Instead of saying "She was abused," rather say "He chose to abuse her." Instead of asking "Why didn’t they leave?" rather ask "Why did the abuser feel entitled to harm them?"
• Focus on Perpetrators and Systems, Not Just Survivors: GBV is not just about individual experiences; it is about the systems that enable it. Media stories should highlight the responsibility of perpetrators, legal loopholes, and societal attitudes that allow GBV to persist.
• Balance Awareness with Protection: The goal is not just to expose the problem but to advocate for change while safeguarding those affected. A GBV story should inspire action, whether through policy change, community involvement, or survivor support.

Every GBV story has the power to either fuel justice or fuel stigma. As we use media to tell these stories, we must ask ourselves:

? Are we protecting the survivor’s dignity?

? Are we challenging harmful societal norms?

? Are we providing a call to action for real change?

Every story told should be handled with care, dignity, and responsibility. Don't just use media; use it responsibly, ensuring that every voice is heard without harm, without fear, and with the dignity it deserves.