Journalists invited to a competition for best news stories on CRSV

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) announces the launch of a contest for journalistic works on the topic of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). The competition is held as part of the project called Promoting Social Integration of CRSV Survivors and Breaking the Chains of Stigma, which is implemented by the NUJU with the support of the Mukwege Foundation.

Over the centuries, the problems of the CRSV were hushed up, and the survivors were often ostracized, so few of them dared to speak about it. Since the beginning of the large-scale russian invasion in 2022, sexual violence has become a weapon of war used by the russian military against both Ukrainian women and men. In these conditions, it is important not only to support the survivors of crimes but also to give them the opportunity to talk about their experiences.

It is journalists who can help society hear the voices of those who survived sexual violence during the war.

Materials published or broadcast between October 1, 2023, and August 4, 2024, inclusive, are accepted for the competition. Formats of materials: video, text material, radio/podcast, photo.

Both full-time editorial staff and freelancers can take part in the competition. Collective participation (several authors) is allowed.

Journalistic materials sent to the competition will be evaluated by members of the jury, which includes experienced journalists, experts on gender issues, and human rights defenders who work with the problem of CRSV. The head of the jury is Liudmyla Huseinova, a human rights defender/citizen journalist/communications director of the SEMA Ukraine non-governmental organization.

The jury will determine the winner of the Grand Prix competition, as well as the winners who will take 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places.

The winners will receive diplomas and valuable prizes provided by the organizers and partners of the competition. Incentive awards are also provided.

Materials submitted to the competition must meet the standards of the Code of Ethics of a Ukrainian Journalist; affect the interests of a significant part of society and respond to their requests; relate to the topic of CRSV; become a reason for solving social problems; be clear, structured, understandable to the audience, easily and dynamically perceived by readers/viewers/listeners; raise the relevance of the CRSV topic.

You can apply for participation in the competition at this link: https://forms.gle/FkM4ig8zgPMyGd4U9

The applications are accepted until August 4, 2024.

The competition CRSV: What Journalists Need to Know will be held in 5 stages:

• announcement of the competition – May 30, 2024;

• the end of accepting applications – August 4, 2024, until 11:59 p.m.;

• evaluation of applications and determination of winners – from August 5 to August 11, 2024;

• awarding of winners – until August 24, 2024.

If you have further questions, please get in touch with the email address [email protected]