Liudmyla Huseinova: “Ethics is what is needed while covering stories of people-survivors of sexual violence”

How to correctly cover the stories of people who have experienced sexual violence in conflict conditions was a topic discussed at a meeting of media expert/First Secretary of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU)/co-chair of the expert group of the European Federation of Journalists on matters of gender equality and diversity, Lina Kushch, and human rights defender/citizen journalist/communications director of the SEMA Ukraine non-governmental organization, Liudmyla Huseinova, with students of the Ivan Franko Lviv National University.

The meeting focused on how to properly cover the stories of people who have been sexually abused. The students were also told what conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is, its types, and its relevance in the context of a full-scale russian invasion. Liudmyla Huseinova emphasized that it is very important to highlight the stories of people who have suffered, and the main thing is to do it correctly and ethically. The meeting was also dedicated to the experiences of people in captivity and the problems they face after their release.

In addition, Lina Kushch told the students about the activities of the NUJU and the peculiarities of its work today.

Students received comprehensive answers to their questions from experts.

Call the Lviv JSC at 097 907 9702 (Nataliya Voitovych, the Lviv JSC coordinator). The Center’s address is 5 Solomiyi Krushelnytskoyi Street.

 ABOUT JSC

The Journalists’ Solidarity Centers is an initiative of the NUJU implemented with the support of the International and European Federations of Journalists and UNESCO. The initiative is designated to help media representatives working in Ukraine during the war. The Centers operate in Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro and provide journalists with organizational, technical, legal, psychological, and other types of assistance.

ABOUT UNESCO

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding. It is the coordinator of the UN Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which aims to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers, thus strengthening peace, democracy, and sustainable development worldwide. UNESCO is working closely with its partner organizations in Ukraine to provide support to journalists on the ground.

The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this digest do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

The authors are responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this digest and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit to the organization.

Alina Shtempel