Freedom of the press is a fundamental principle of democracy that also encompasses the right of the media to research and share relevant information with the public in an informed and inclusive manner.
The role of journalism is essential to a free, unique and open society. The way we look at journalistic information today is decisive in the defense of democratic regimes, in the fight against disinformation, in the protection and promotion of human and fundamental rights, in environmental and social sustainability and, above all, in the renewal of a sphere of public good that boasts values such as Universalism, Equality and Diversity.
Given its relevance, on January 26th, the Workshop "Communicating for Human Rights - The Role of the Media" took place in Funchal, Autonomous Region of Madeira (R.A.M.), in the Rectory Building of the University of Madeira (patio room II), with free and certified participation. The workshop highlighted the way in which news about sensitive issues such as Human Rights, Domestic Violence and the behavior of individuals and society in general are disseminated.
In the session, given by the trainer, Joana Simões Piedade, who has a law degree, specializes in journalism and has a master's degree in Migration, Inter-Ethnicities and Transnationalism, several publications on the topics in question were presented, duly analysed to better convey and reach a greater number of people, about the events that end up impacting and mobilizing public perception against injustices. These topics were a reminder of the fact that they have sometimes been the subject of complaints to the Media Regulatory Authority.
"Do victims of Domestic Violence feel less protected by the way cases are reported? Is it important to describe how the aggressor killed the victim? Is more aggression generated when Domestic Violence cases are reported?" - These were some of the questions that Joana Simões Correia presented and debated, and also promoted reflection on Borges' statement (2019): "The media are not fulfilling their pedagogical role and are contributing to the mimicking effect of crimes".
Reaching a wider audience is one of the purposes of the Media and information on Domestic Violence, Migration and Refugees, which is directly related to Human Rights, must be transmitted in such a way that there are no dubious or incorrect interpretations.
Despite their decisive role in shaping public opinion, particularly in their work to prevent, raise awareness and provide information, there is an urgent need to promote more training for journalists, so that their coverage and treatment of information contributes to supporting the most vulnerable people.
At the session, the “
Guia de Boas Práticas dos Órgãos de Comunicação Social na Prevenção e Combate à Violência Doméstica contra as Mulheres e Violência Doméstica – CIG, 2019” (Guide to Good Practices for the Media in Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence against Women and Domestic Violence - CIG, 2019), was presented, a decisive document that reinforces the informative/formative role of the media in relation to power relations, gender inequalities and the fundamentality of ZERO tolerance towards violent behavior.
Throughout time, women have been deprived of fully exercising their rights and have been subjected to the most varied forms of abuse. The concept of being a woman (fragile, dependent, submissive, among other conditions of inferiority/disability) and Gender Inequality (such as the wage gap, for example) can explain the growing and constant aggression against them. The circumstances speak for themselves and show how society - still patriarchal - naturalizes Violence against Women.
Calling for the right to privacy, integrating existing helplines and facilitating widespread understanding of the phenomenon of Domestic Violence against Women were themes for dialogue and action. The meeting, which brought together people interested in communication and journalists, aimed to empower them to become more resilient and cautious in the way they communicate, in favor of a more democratic, inclusive, fair and equal society.
O evento foi promovido pela
AIDGLOBAL, em parceria com a
Universidade da Madeira, e apoiado pelo
JM-Madeira, âmbito do projeto projeto
“Dialogar e Agir por + Igualdade na RAM” – financiado pelo
Programa Cidadãos Ativ@s dos EEA Grants — que tem como Operadores a
Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian e a
Fundação Bissaya Barreto.
The event was promoted by
AIDGLOBAL, in partnership with the
University of Madeira, and supported by
JM-Madeira, as part of the project "
Dialogar e Agir por + Igualdade na R.A.M." - – funded by the
Active Citizens Fund Programme of the EEA Grants - whose Operators are the
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the
Bissaya Barreto Foundation.
Bibliography:
Borges, L. (2019, fevereiro 14).
Agressores sentem-se impunes e inspirados por notícias de violência doméstica. Público.
https://www.publico.pt/2019/02/14/sociedade/noticia/forma-falamos-violencia-domestica-estar-potenciala-1861774
