SEESAC Conducts a Training on the Ethics of Informing the Public About Gender-Based Violence With Firearm Misuse

On 25 and 26 November 2024, SEESAC brought together journalists, representatives of the prosecutors’ offices, the Ministry of Interior and police services of Albania for a training on the Ethics of Informing the Public on Gender-based violence with the focus on incidents with firearm misuse in Durres, Albania.^[1]

This was the first such training in Albania, following similar ones that have taken place in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo* as a part of SEESAC’s ongoing effort to support and promote cooperation among relevant institutions that directly contribute to the public discourse and shape public perception of gender-based violence (GBV) with firearms.

Mr. Francisco Roquette, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Albania, opened the event and reminded the participants of the origins of this initiative. Namely, he noted that the trainings were prompted by members of the Regional Awareness Raising Task Force focused on SALW who, at the same time identified better cooperation with the media as key to having more success in raising awareness among the general public about a variety of topics linked to firearms, and recognized gender-based violence as a particularly acute problem that deserves greater attention.

During the first day of the training, participants were informed in more detail about key dynamics of GBV, why ethical reporting on this subject is important, and what are the consequences of an unethical approach. In addition, participants were familiarized with the particular risks associated with the presence of firearms in gender-based violence context and with the importance of keeping track of the misuse of SALW in these incidents.

On the second day of the training, the results of the OSCE’s media analysis and needs assessment as they relate to reporting of firearm misuse in gender-based violence in Albania were presented, as were the results of a similar regional analysis of media’s reporting on GBV with firearms developed by UNDP SEESAC in collaboration with the Journalists Against Violence Against Women. Participants were also introduced to the Guidelines for Officials of the Ministries of Interior and Police Services for Communication with the Media in Cases of Firearms Misuse in GBV, developed based on the trends identified in SEESAC’s Regional Analysis.

Through open discussions and practical exercises based on real-life examples, the training explored daily interaction between media newsrooms, and PR services within public prosecutors’ offices, the MOI and police services, shedding light on areas where more coordinated and sensitive communication strategies within and among these institutions would benefit the public interest.

These trainings were organized within the scope of SEESAC’s efforts to raise awareness and increase the operational capacities of relevant beneficiaries through the Regional IPA project in Support of Enhancing the Fight Against the Illegal Possession, Misuse, and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans funded by European Commission.

The implementation of these trainings directly contributes to the implementation of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition in the Western Balkans, with a focus on Goal 4 of the Roadmap, which states: Significantly reduce the supply, demand and misuse of firearms through increased awareness, education, outreach and advocacy.

[1] For the United Nations Development Programme, references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

* For the European Union, this designation used is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244/99 and the International Court of Justice Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.