Respect dignity, privacy of rape victims — NMC

The National Media Commission (NMC) has called on the media to show sensitivity, circumspection and respect with regard to their reporting of the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a Takoradi-based radio presenter.

This call follows a similar call made by the Ministry of Gender, Women and Social Protection on the media, traditional and social, to respect the privacy and dignity of the lady radio presenter by not publishing the pictures of the lady in her ordeal.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, the NMC reminded the media about generally accepted universal standards as enshrined in the Code of Ethics of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) with respect to the privacy and dignity of victims of sexual assault.

“We urge the media outlets which have the photographs of the lady presenter on their website to remove them immediately,” it said.

It also called for the passage of laws, as obtains in the United Kingdom, that would make it illegal and a punishable offence for individuals and the media to disclose the identity of victims of sexual assault through the publication of their photographs and identity.

“It is only such a law that ultimately grants victims of sexual abuse perpetual anonymity that will protect the privacy and dignity of victims of sexual abuse,” the statement added.