By Oluwatomisin Amokeoja
Executive Director of Media Career Development Network, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, has advised journalists to be cautious in reporting rape and assaults cases to avoid stigmatising the victims.
The veteran journalist called for compliance to ethical codes of the media profession among other issues in the latest online men and rape series: “Rape and Stigmatization: Why Male Victims Do Not Speak Up” organized by HeAgainstRape on Friday evening.
Calling for strict compliance with the code of ethics for journalists, he explained that “there is a level that reporting about cases of rape and assault will get to that it becomes stigmatizing.”
“The media should know what details to publish and the ones to be left out. Images should not be used with the permission of victims,” Otufodunrin reiterated.
He urged the media to follow up on rape cases until justice is served.
In his response to the ideal procedure for reportage, the former Managing Editor of The Nation Newspaper cited the provision of the ethical code: “the code of ethics states that a journalist should not identify, either by name or picture, or interview children under the age of 16 who are involved in cases concerning sexual offences, crimes and rituals or witchcraft either as victims, witnesses or defendants.”
“We don’t have to report all details, especially those that are too graphic as we see in some publications,” he added.
He cautioned journalists on subjecting victims to questions “as though they are on the side of the perpetrators, especially in police stations.”
Otufodunrin prescribes documentation of rape offenders for easy identification at locations they may be unknown to people.
He equally called for enforcement of laws by concerned agencies.
“The wrong impression should not be given that rape and assault of men are not as grievous as that of the female.
“We need to admit that it is real and take it more seriously. The cases should get as much publicity as that against female. Men should not be ashamed of speaking up when they are assaulted.
“Those who speak up should get the necessary support of all and culprits should be penalized to serve as a deterrent to others. Stigmatization should be avoided so that more victims can be bold to speak up.
“Our culture should not encourage silence by condoning the criminal act. Parents should not accept to settle rape cases outside the ambits of the law.
“We should stop believing that men can never be seen as victims but abusers or that it’s a sign of weakness for a man to acknowledge he is hurting as a result of rape.
“There should be more advocacy group advocating against the assault on men like women. For now, the focus is on women, which is understandable but we need to be focusing now on men too
“There should be more enlightenment about rape and sexual assaults at all levels. Sex education should be taught as appropriate at all levels.”
HeAgainstRape is an initiative against rape through enlightenment and education, with a focus on how the male gender can lead the change in Nigeria.
