A two-day training on gender based violence and trauma awareness for Tongan journalists began today, Wednesday 4 November in Nuku’alofa.

The training aims to improve the knowledge of journalists on the sensitivity and severity of issues and cases resulting from gender based violence and other tragedies.

Cait McMahon the facilitator and Managing Director of Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma-Asia Pacific said from an international perspective, women experience more violence from men than the other way around.

“I hope that journalists will improve their skills in regards to reporting ethically and accurately on violence, while learning how to interview and report traumatized subjects in a better and more skillful way,” she said.

'Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki the Director of Tonga's Women and Children Crisis Centre made a presentation on gender, gender based violence, how media report on gender based violence.

More than 10 local journalists from print, broadcasting and online are taking part at Tungi Colonnade.

The media training was initiated by UNESCO’s Office for Pacific States in partnership with Tonga Broadcasting Commission together with Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma-Asia Pacific and the Women and Children Crisis Centre.