Ethical reporting key to ending GBV

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has hosted a one-day training workshop for journalists in Lesotho to improve ethical reporting practices that centre on survivors and apply a gender-sensitive approach.

UNFPA representative, John Kennedy Mosoti, noted that a lot of women and girls suffer in silence. Their stories often go untold and their voices unheard. But the media has the power to change that, he said.

“You have a solemn duty as journalists, ask questions, play your advocacy role, report on the systems; what is Parliament doing? What are the police doing?” he said during the training on Thursday.

Echoing this call to action, Director of Gender, ‘Mapuleng Secheche, stressed that the media cannot remain passive observers. 

She said as influential platforms, the media play a critical role in shaping public attitudes and social norms around gender.

She pointed out that ending gender-based violence (GBV) begins with raising awareness, promoting accountability, and committing to responsible, survivor-centred storytelling. 

Secheche also urged journalists to take the lead in challenging harmful stereotypes, amplifying survivor voices, and driving meaningful social change.

Many cases go unreported and large numbers of women suffer in silence and rarely approach police stations, often due to stigma, fear of retaliation, or lack of access to services. 

In rural areas, it becomes even more difficult, as reaching remote villages is logistically challenging and survivors have limited access to support systems, she said.

“This widespread underreporting means the true scale of gender-based violence remains hidden, making it harder to address and prevent,” she indicated.