BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
EZULWINI- Margaret Thwala-Tembe, Head of Office at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has called on editors across the country to adopt a survivor-centred approach in all Gender-Based Violence (GBV) reporting, warning that harmful or sensational coverage can silence survivors and weaken national efforts to end GBV.
This message was delivered on November 21, 2025 during the Editors Forum engagement on the National Anti-GBV Communication Strategy under the Hlonipheka – Thriving for Dignity Programme, co-funded by the European Union and UNFPA.
Speaking on behalf of UNFPA, Head of Office Margaret Thwala Tembe stressed that the media plays a defining role in shaping how the nation understands and responds to GBV. She said the communication strategy being introduced aims to strengthen how GBV messages are conveyed to the public, ensuring that reporting is accurate, ethical, and protective of survivors.
“As editors, you set the agenda. You determine which issues receive prominence, and your framing influences how survivors are portrayed and how communities respond,” she said.
She warned that coverage driven by sensationalism or stigma can have damaging consequences. “When reporting reinforces stigma, it can silence survivors, discourage reporting, and weaken public confidence in the systems meant to protect them. Responsible reporting informs, protects, and empowers.”
Margaret Thwala Tembe highlighted that GBV remains pervasive in Eswatini, pointing to the latest findings showing that 5.5 percent of young women aged 18 to 24 experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, and that men are more likely to experience physical violence than women. She added that the Hlonipheka – Thriving for Dignity Programme is working to support survivors by providing safe shelter and economic empowerment opportunities, restoring hope and dignity.
Senior Gender Analyst Thandwa S. Dlamini further underscored the scale of the problem, presenting a shocking 9 790 reported cases of GBV. She said the numbers were a reminder of the urgent need to strengthen prevention and public awareness efforts.
Editors Forum Chairman Mbongeni Mbingo called for stronger collaboration between the media and national stakeholders to improve GBV reporting. “Media is the fourth arm of government, and as media we will play our part, driven by the desire to inform the public,” he said. Chief Editor at Channel Yemaswati, Khanyisile Mabuza, noted that journalists encounter GBV stories daily but the public still requires more education to understand the severity of the crisis.
UNFPA Head of Office reiterated that the purpose of the engagement was to ensure that editors and communicators work together to strengthen ethical GBV reporting. She encouraged the integration of survivor-centred language, accurate information, and non-harmful framing in all stories. “Ending GBV is a shared responsibility. We can only move forward when we move together,” she concluded.
The meeting underscored the importance of responsible journalism in shaping public understanding, supporting survivors, and promoting a national culture of dignity, justice, and solidarity.
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