By Victoria Agyemang
Aburi (E/R), Nov 25, GNA – There is the need to interrogate systems and structures that increase women’s vulnerability, and work to safeguard women from sexual corruption.
Dr Aurelia Ayisi, a lecturer at the Department of Communication Studies of the University of Ghana, said citizens should desist from normalising abuses against women and focus on the consequences it had on the victims.
“We have to speak to the issues and stop the victim blaming and defence tactics that protect perpetrators against the victims.”
Speaking at a three-day training workshop on sexual corruption for female journalists at Aburi, she identified patriarchal societal norms and a limited understanding of women’s rights as human rights, among others, as some of the challenges needed to be addressed as sexual corruption issues.
The training, organised by the GIZ with funds from the European Union and the Swiss Cooperation, formed part of the participation, accountability, and integrity for resilient programme of GIZ, expected to end in 2027.
The training was aimed at educating the journalists on sexual corruption and how they could use their platforms to increase awareness and education on sexual corruption.
Also, it was to highlight the pervasiveness of the menace of sexual corruption and equip participants with knowledge on effective reporting.
According to Dr Ayisi, sexual corruption manifested when people with entrusted authority abuse their power and authority in exchange for sexual favours.
She noted that there was the need for open and candid conversations around ‘sex as currency for access to goods or service conditions,’ which is sexual corruption.
She said trivialising the situation and its impact on the victims affected them psychologically, emotionally, and physically.
Journalists should therefore be gender sensitive in reporting gendered issues like sexual corruption to be able to communicate responsibly without being biased towards one party.
Dr Ayisi admonished participants to create a more respectful and equitable environment and as well enhance the accuracy and fairness in their reportage.
GNA