Case studies >>Getting the story straight


First published: 2009-06-01

Allyson Thirkell (Director at SDDirect) and Hope Kabuchu (a network member) have recently finished a review of DFID's Civil Society Support Programme which funds organisations working on voice and accountability work in Uganda. Here is one of the innovative methods used by one of the programme grantees, CEDOVIP.

Reporting on domestic violence requires sensitivity not sensationalization. Working with 35 Kampala based journalists the Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) have explained why domestic violence must be reported as a human rights violation, not just another household issue. CEDOVIP commented that up to 68% of households in Uganda experience domestic violence and last year up to 80 people were killed in domestic disputes, of which 73 of them were women making it a serious gender issue.

CEDOVIP staff now monitors the press rewarding and reprimanding individual journalists for their coverage of the issue. Sending red and green postcards they highlight the good and bad examples of reporting on this issue reminding journalists that people care about the quality of reporting. Journalists value receiving feedback and display the green cards as recognition of good reporting. Good press coverage is a major force in changing people’s attitudes and making a difference.

The Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention is funded by a DFID grant through the Civil Society Umbrella Programme (CSUP) in Uganda.