Aura Freedom International

Published purpose

This 29-month project will support a feminist response and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19, through systemic change. Aura Freedom International will achieve this by creating a National Network and National Guidelines for reporting on GBV in the media. At the end of the project, the organization will have contributed to addressing systemic barriers by advancing inclusive policies and practices, increasing networks and collaboration to accelerate systemic change and addressing persistent harmful gender norms and attitudes to support women’s equality. The Network created as a result of this project will consist of journalists, media professionals, students, professors, GBV organizations, frontline workers, Elders, survivors and marginalized groups who will work together to create National Guidelines for GBV in the media. The Network will produce additional resources housed on a public Project Microsite. Network members will also participate in a Forum where media professionals and students can submit work prior to publication, ensuring journalism is GBV transformative. The National Guidelines for GBV in the media produced will inform and guide media professionals, journalists, police, and other stakeholders to properly report on GBV, through best practices, appropriate and inclusive language, and clear definitions. The Guidelines will be trauma and survivor informed through an intersectional feminist lens to create transformational media, mainstreaming GBV as an urgent national issue that affects everyone. The successful implementation of the Guidelines will empower survivors, dismantle harmful gender norms, promote male engagement and gender equality overall.