Can media help to prevent violence against women and girls?

Wednesday, June 15 / Room Addis Abeba III / 10.30 a.m.

The New Year's Eve attacks against women in several German and European cities have shown a drastic need for gender-sensitive reporting as well as the need to explore the deeper roots of violence against women.

In this interactive session, experts from politics, NGOs, academia and the media will take a critical look at the coverage of violence against women in traditional as well as in social media and address challenges in reporting based on stereotypes and gender-offensive language. We will present and discuss international best practices and highlight the importance of self-regulatory standards in accordance with press freedom, as, for example, required by the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).

Furthermore, the panelists will explore the roots of violence against women and discuss ways to eliminate it. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are at the center of the Agenda for Sustainable Development and ending violence against women is integral in the implementation of Planet 50:50 by 2030. This session aims at finding possible solutions as to how the media can help end gender-based violence and thus contribute to gender equality and empowerment of women.