The action “Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in North Macedonia – JUFREX 2”, as part of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe, “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”, has been successfully cooperating with and supporting the implementation of the activities of the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services. Under this cooperation, an online promotional event was held during which the recently prepared “Guidelines of the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services on monitoring of the application of reporting standards in gender-based violence cases in the media” was presented.
As gender-based violence in the media is a complex topic, that requires engagement of all stakeholders at any and all levels, in addition to the Guidelines prepared by an international expert of the Council of Europe, the Coalition Margini, with the support from the Heinrich Bell Foundation, has prepared a Research on the media coverage of LGBTI community related topics and gender-based violence, while HOPS- Healthy Options Project Skopje/UN Women have prepared Guidelines on gender-sensitive reporting in the media. All these inter-related and complementary tools that will support the work of the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services were presented on the online promotional event attended by more than 50 relevant stakeholders and media actors.
The importance of the research and the creation of useful tools for gender-based violence monitoring and reporting by the media was recognized by representatives of the donors and civil society organisations, as well as related institutions participating in the event. They agreed that the media has to be aware of the gender-based violence situation in the country, and the importance to follow certain reporting standards, being aware that their work is being monitored, in terms of abiding by the minimum required reporting standards.
The participants tackled the fact that gender-based violence is extended in various contexts and must be fought in all levels; domestic or professional, online or offline. There is a need to talk about gender based violence without revictimizing the victim or without morally judging the victim, but on the contrary by encouraging the victim to stand up and report any type of violence.
This event was organised within the action on “Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in North Macedonia (JUFREX 2)” . This action is a part of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II”, that enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with the European standards, including where relevant within the framework of the EU enlargement process.