Representatives from the London based group have paid a courtesy visit to the SMC. CEO, Ibrahim Afif welcomed Pamela Zaballa and Melissa Morbeck who both works for Hestia & Corporate Alliance, a group that is currently working with the Commonwealth on issues relating to Gender Based Violence (GBV). The delegation is being assisted in Seychelles by the Ministry of Family Affairs.
Through their visit they shared that they are holding a scoping mission in the country to have a better understanding of the issues related to gender based violence. By holding a discussion with the Media Commission, the group sought to understand how the media covers matters of, and relating to GBV. Questions sought to identify whether the country has a regulation that forces the media to cover GBV cases, whether we have media campaigns around the issue and who carries the messages. They also sought to understand how a media campaign would impact on the Seychellois audience.
Whilst the media is not forced to cover matters relating to GBV, broadcasters and publishers alike, have for a number of years covered such issues through news reports and debate style formatted programmes. Victims of GBV have also had opportunities to share their stories and often chosen to preserve their identity, in fear of further abuse, stigmatisation and with the aim of maintaining their privacy. Through donor funding, NGOs have launched small media campaigns by using educational spots as the main carrier of the messages.
The SMC have also taken the opportunity to discuss matters concerning training for media practitioners in the areas of GBV, which is currently lacking. By having media practitioners who understand the issue, allows better coverage of such matters and better engagement with the subject matter and victims.
The SMC, which is a member of the National Gender Committee, have over the past year received training on matters concerning GBV and will be leading the review of the section concerning the media in the Gender Action Plan, scheduled for January of 2019.