2006年VOA标准英语-UN Raises Awareness on Gender Violence in Afric

By Kari Barber
Dakar
24 November 2006

As part of a week to raise awareness¹ against gender² violence in Africa, the U.N. Population Fund is training local journalists to report on the issue in a way that can help solve it. Kari Barber attended a day-long workshop in Dakar and has this report for VOA.

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Lesley Abdela
20 journalists, representing seven African countries share their experience covering violent crimes against women.

With the help of workshop leader Lesley Abdela, the men and women look for ways they can use their reporting to improve the lives of others.

Gaspard Safari,  the president of the Rwanda Journalist Association, says it is important to recognize the different struggles of each country.

He said, "The unique thing about Rwanda is that genocide and gender violence was used as a weapon of war in that genocide. So as journalists we are looking at issues a little bit different as compared with other African countries."

What works to alleviate³ violence in one country, might be helpful in another says Sow El Bachir, an editorial advisor⁴ at a newspaper group in Dakar.

El Bachir says Senegal has not suffered like some of its neighboring countries. He says he can learn a lot from colleagues who have covered civil wars and genocides.

 
African journalists learn how to write about sensitive issues in Dakar, Nov. 24, 2006
Gender-based violence is personal for some journalists.

Radio reporter Mariama Coker from Sierra Leone underwent female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, as a child.

She said, "I went through this process, but I was a very little girl. My parents did not ask my consent. In fact I was happy. "

Coker says her experience gives her a different perspective from many in the group. She does not think reporters should use an aggressive approach against those who perform female circumcision.

"It is only the manner that they want to do this thing that I do not agree with. You should do it step-by-step. You should sensitize the people," she said.

At the end of the workshop, Abdela asks the participants to make lists of short-term goals they can work towards to make their countries safer for both genders⁵.

Some participants say they will write columns about gender violence to address the underlying⁶ issues, rather than just sensationalizing cases.

Others say they will organize similar workshops in their communities.

But for real results, Abdela says, she is looking further into the future.

"As in all our societies it takes 10 years to change perceptions. And sometimes longer," she said.

Abdela says journalists have to work harder to find women as sources. Many local articles are filled with quotes of just men who are often more willing to speak.

The two-day conference kicked off a week of anti-violence activities organized by the U.N. Population Fund in Dakar.

A film festival with movies denouncing gender violence is also taking place.

1 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

2 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

3 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。

4 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

5 genders   

n.性某些语言的（阳性、阴性和中性，不同的性有不同的词尾等）( gender的名词复数 )；性别；某些语言的（名词、代词和形容词）性的区分

参考例句：

• There are three genders in German: masculine, feminine and neuter. 德语中有叁性：阳性、阴性和中性。 来自辞典例句
• Japan was fourth among the genders of foreign students. 日本在二十个留美学生输送地中列第四位。 来自互联网

6 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。