‘Journalists need to do more on ending domestic violence’
Hajia Sekinat Lawal, an Assistant Editor with the National Mirror newspapers and incumbent Chairperson of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State chapter, speaks on the role of female journalists in ending domestic violence, the NAWOJ week, women as national leaders and media houses which owe salaries Lagos NAWOJ will be holding its […]
Hajia Sekinat Lawal, an Assistant Editor with the National Mirror newspapers and incumbent Chairperson of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State chapter, speaks on the role of female journalists in ending domestic violence, the NAWOJ week, women as national leaders and media houses which owe salaries
Lagos NAWOJ will be holding its annual week from July 31 to August 5. What impact does the body intend to make on the public with this event?
In the past, we had drawn the attention of women to focus more on breastfeeding in order to reduce malnutrition among children. This year, we are broadening our theme beyond gender to embrace everybody. Our theme this year is: Ending domestic violence, a task for all.
As women professionals, we have deemed it fit to create awareness on domestic violence. We see domestic violence as a major crisis with women mostly at the receiving end, battered and molested, while men, too, are being killed by their wives.
Many people, including parents, lawmakers, police officers, nurses, doctors and we journalists, have big roles to play in ending this menace. As parents, especially mothers, we should stop making our children see marriage as a do-or-die affair. If any marriage is not working, let us find a way round it. It should not be that the woman must stay in marriage, even if she is being abused. Parents, friends and families should stop forcing abused husbands or wives to stay in such marriages. Is it not better to be alive than to stay where you are continuously battered and bullied, and at the end of the day, be casualties? A lot of lives have been lost as a result of this.
From the legal angle, the laws are there but implementation is the problem. How effective has been the law? The case of domestic violence is a serious one that should not be adjourned for months and years. When cases are continuously adjourned, those involved get tired and even the evidences will no longer be there. How helpful has been the judicial system in such cases? Are they really discharging their responsibilities as they should? Are they giving the problem the desired attention?
Same goes for the police. Many times, it is at the police station that some cases are settled. If perpetrators of domestic violence know that when they abuse their partners they will face the music, the crime will reduce.
How can women journalists help in reducing domestic violence?
Information and education. Reporters will need to report more on domestic violence. Also, we need to enlighten our members on the need to make people know it is better to nip domestic violence in the bud through prevention. It is necessary to start informing people before marriage that it takes more than love to make a marriage work. There are certain tell-tale signs we need to watch out before saying “I do”. Prevention will be better, rather than allowing the worst to happen. On Thursday, during the NAWOJ week, there will be a seminar for professionals in different fields to explain the various angles to domestic problems.
Women are gradually becoming world leaders. What is your view on this and is it possible in Nigeria?
Women taking leadership positions over the world is a welcome idea. It shows what a man can do, a woman can do better. A lot of women are taking over superpower nations such as Germany and the United Kingdom. Very soon, it will happen in the United States of America.
Truly, in Nigeria, women are in key positions. But, we can do better, even in many other positions. Women can serve better in many other capacities. There are many intellectual women who are yet to be discovered.
How do you think the pressure of the media job affect women journalists in terms of marriage?
It is a challenge really. It is a matter of managing your time. Women journalists need to plan their work in a way that it will not affect their home. Men will always have ego. No matter what profession, position or status of a woman, she should still be humble, and be submissive and respectful to her man. Trust should not be breached. And someone must head the family. We should be able to know when to draw the line by giving our husband and children the needed attention at home.
What is your opinion on media organizations who owe journalists?
Journalists should not be owed. The ethics of the profession does not give room for collecting anything outside your salary. But when employers owe journalists, it becomes a case of he who pays the piper dictates the tune. Journalists should have financial freedom, so they will be able to perform their role of watchdog in the society. We are supposed to search out and report who is not doing what is right, report which governor is not implementing his budget, and objectively report other national issues. But that is not the situation now as many journalists not paid by their employers are busy looking for how to make ends meet.
Journalists should be economically independent so they can be independent-minded and nobody will be able to dictate to them what stories to publish and what tilt. For our democracy to work, journalists should be paid their salaries regularly so we will be able to always keep those in government on their toes.
Employers should take journalists welfare more seriously. Many media bodies, which include the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Guild of Editors, Nigerian Association of Newspaper Proprietors and NAWOJ, should all work towards ensuring that journalists are not owed months of salaries. They should work hard to ensure that the current trend where employers brazenly owe their journalist employees months and months of salaries is put to an end. Any media owner that cannot pay his employees their salaries has no business being in the media business. Somebody went to South Africa to try it and all hell broke loose for him because they wouldn’t condone it. They would not allow anyone to owe their citizens. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, anything goes. We are in the era of change, and change should truly reflect in the media profession for our democracy to be effective.