No To Cyber Bullying and Harassment of Female Journalist- SHI & NAWOJ

Maryam Aminu

Worried by the rapid increase attacks female journalists face offline and online putting their safety at risk in the society today, Supporting Hands Initiative SHI, in collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women journalist FCT organized a training on cyberbullying and harassment for female journalists in FCT.

The training which was supported by report women News and Newsroom engagement -WSCIJ, took place 13th August,2022 at NUJ Secretariat,Abuja.
It was hosted by Development journalist/Fellow FRLP-WSCIJ, Bassey Ita Ikpang.

In her remarks, the Chairperson NAWOJ FCT, Comrade Annah Daniels stated that the collaboration is the need to educate journalists on how to be persistent in reporting cases of gender based violence espercially bullying and harrasment of women espercially female journalists which seems to be a new norm now, and also their promise to reposition FCT NAWOJ

Daniels condemned in totality online cyberbullying and harassment on women especially journalists.

The guest speaker, crime correspondent, Chizoba Ogbeche nailed the causes of harassment and provided the journalists with key safety tips to further curb the menace.

“Studies have shown that female journalists are targeted online significantly more than their male colleagues, and that the threats they face are highly sexualized”

Ogbeche urged female journalists to be good at their works as most atimes harassment comes in times of compromise

Speaking also,Cyber Security and Forensic Analyst Emmanuel Okoi task audience to be cyber security conscious and avoid unnecessary clicking of unauthorized links.

Also Speaking ,the President NAWOJ, Comrade Ladi Bala commended the organizers of the training and hope for more of such educative sessions.

Bala stated that female journalists also have a role to play in eliminating sexual and Gender based violence by reporting and ensuring follow ups until survivors get justice .

She advised participants to put to practice all that they learnt at the training .