IPC director’s remarks at forum on online violence against female politicians

Arogundade

The International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos in conjunction with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and the Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED) has held a Media Round Table on the Role of the Media in Combating Gender-Related Hate Speech Online through Objective and Conflict Sensitive Reporting.

The round table held on August 29, 2018 with the support of Peace Tech Lab and was well attended by online media practitioners, representatives of IPC, HUFFPED, WANEP, and its keynote speakers, Lekan Otufodunrin, Managing Editor, Online, The Nation, and Yinka Shokunbi, Editor, Health Style Plus Online.

Below are the opening remarks of Lanre Arogundade, Director, IPC to the round table which is all about the critical need to help more women advance in Nigeria’s political sector.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this event organized by the International Press Centre in partnership with West Africa Network for Peace Building and Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development.

“With the funding support of PeaceTech Lab, this is part of series of activities being executed under the project titled Combating Hate Speech Online.

“Based on the conclusion of the findings of a recent survey, this round table aims to engage online journalists, bloggers and users of social media platforms on the role of the media in combating gender-related hate speech online, through objective and conflict sensitive reporting, in order to enhance the participation of women in political governance.

“Despite the immense benefits that digital connectivity and the increasing availability of the use of internet and social media platforms have delivered, online media has led to the growing occurrences of sexist hate speech during elections and therefore has opened the doors to new forms of oppression and violence against women politicians. If such trend is allowed to continue, online spaces could widen sex-and-gender-based discrimination.

“A research by Amnesty International revealed the alarming impact that abuse and harassment on social media are having on women, with women around the world reporting stress, anxiety, or panic attacks as a result of these harmful online experiences and in so doing restricting the already limited public space afforded to women politicians.

“It is expected that this media roundtable will therefore enhance the capacity of online journalists/bloggers in using online media for fair, balanced, language sensitive and conflict sensitive reportage towards to promoting counter narratives for inclusive and peaceful political participation that will enhance more participation of women in politics ahead the 2019 elections.

“I welcome you once again and wish you fruitful deliberations.

“Thank you.”