MASVINGO CITY – Media organizations have been called upon to intensify their reporting on gender-based violence (GBV) directed at disabled people, (PWDs).
The Midweek Watch learnt that there has been a significant disparity in coverage, with cases of GBV against PWDs receiving markedly less attention compared to instances affecting other demographic groups.
During a media engagement forum organized by Deaf Women Included in Masvingo, stakeholders, including journalists and representatives from the disability community, expressed their concerns regarding the underreporting of GBV incidents involving PWDs.
Samantha Sibanda, a board member of Deaf Women Included, made an urgent appeal to the media professionals present, emphasizing the necessity of prioritizing the reporting of GBV cases involving PWDs.
This, she argued, is essential for advancing the fight against GBV and safeguarding vulnerable populations.
“This engagement aims to spur media practitioners to amplify coverage of GBV incidents targeting individuals with disabilities. We have noted a concerning lack of representation in mainstream media, and this meeting seeks to explore the underlying reasons and strategies for improvement,” said Sibanda.
Discussions at the forum revealed that PWDs often endure a spectrum of GBV, including psychological, emotional, sexual, and physical violence, yet media reporting remains inadequate to facilitate awareness and advocacy against these atrocities.
Representatives from the disability community articulated their fears, pointing out that GBV perpetrated against them is often rooted in harmful social beliefs.
The president of Disability Amalgamation of Community Trust (DACT) Purazeni Jakata, a local disability rights advocate, highlighted the dangerous misconceptions surrounding PWDs: “Some individuals are led to believe that engaging sexually with us can cure certain illnesses, or that individuals with disabilities, particularly those with albinism, can somehow enhance business prospects through sexual exploitation.”
Sibanda said their organisation is committed to collaborating with journalists to promote training focused on using disability-inclusive language and addressing the stigmatizing terminologies currently prevalent in the media discourse surrounding disabilities.
“We will persist in our efforts to engage the media towards achieving inclusive coverage that can effectively amplify the issues faced by our constituency, particularly regarding GBV. The participation of media personnel with disabilities in this meeting is a significant step forward, as their insights will be invaluable in advancing our objectives,” she said.
Media practitioners at the forum commended Deaf Women Included for its initiative and advocated for the inclusion of media gatekeepers, such as editors and publishers in future dialogues. This, they believe, will enhance appreciation of the media’s role in addressing GBV against PWDs and improve overall coverage of disability issues in mainstream media.
