Gender-Sensitive Reporting in Times of War 

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to widespread reports of sexual violence perpetrated by Russian troops. Beyond the horror and the necessity to bring the culprits to justice, these crimes, used to humiliate, intimidate and punish, have presented journalists with challenges over how to report them ethically. 

IWPR, UN Women Georgia and the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics (Qartia) teamed up to develop a set of guidelines to support journalists and editors produce gender-sensitive coverage. Gender-Sensitive Reporting During Conflict and War is also a valuable manual for journalists in Georgia, a country hosting a large number of Ukrainian refugees, predominantly women and children.

“These guidelines aim at promoting ethical journalism and best international practices on covering violence against women in the media, particularly during conflicts, as mass media plays a decisive role in shaping people’s attitudes on the status and role of women in society and the level of social acceptance on violence against women,” said Tamar Sabedashvili, UN Women Representative in Georgia during the presentation of the manual in Tbilisi on October 11, 2023.

Addressing and combating gender stereotypes was key, noted Khatia Ghoghoberidze, chair of Qartia, Georgia’s independent union of journalists. “We, as media, can influence public opinion, we can either perpetuate stereotypes or challenge them. Journalistic approaches can have a huge impact on how gender roles are understood.”

Media coverage of armed conflict remains male-dominated, with women primarily cast as mothers, wives or sisters and often portrayed as victims. They are rarely depicted as active military participants or agents of change in peace processes. 

“Women are always in the background. We often talk about them, but rarely give them a platform. It is important to listen to them. Women are not only victims. They are heroes too. They should not be relegated to passive roles,” Ghoghoberidze concluded.

Beka Bajelidze, IWPR’s regional director for the South Caucasus, emphasised that the guidelines aimed at addressing broader issues and not just instructing journalists on how to report on sexual violence. 

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are more problems underneath, starting from social norms and subsequent prejudices. It is crucial to take them into account when covering sensitive topics,” Bajelidze said. “Our objective is to support journalists in giving voice to women and sharing stories portraying women not only as victims, but as active agents for change, advocating for justice and human rights, leading in public diplomacy initiatives, and taking active part in formal peacebuilding and reconstruction processes.”

The publications of the guidelines and the event are part of the UN Women Georgia project, Accelerating Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Georgia, implemented in partnership with IWPR, funded by the UK Government.