-As It Trains Journalists on Ethical Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Reporting
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia – The Amplifying Rights Network (ARN) has hosted a one-day media dialogue for more than 20 Liberian journalists, bloggers, and content creators to promote responsible and ethical reporting on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
The event, held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at the D’ Calabash Hotel in Congo Town, sought to equip media professionals with the skills to cover SRHR issues responsibly and ethically. Participants included reporters, online content producers, and civil society stakeholders. According to UNFPA Liberia, 85 percent of rape survivors recorded in 2023 were children or adolescents.
Additional data presented at the dialogue indicate that one in three Liberian girls aged 15 to 19 is either pregnant or already a mother, while the unmet need for family planning among adolescents stands at 47 percent. Unsafe abortion remains a major public health concern, and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) continues to be practiced despite evolving policies.
In a remark at the opening of the event, Madam Hawa Wilson of the Paramount Young Women’s Initiative (PAWOWI), a member of ARN committed to building partnerships with the media to expand sexual reproductive health and rights education and address the misconceptions. “ARN remains committed to building partnerships with the media to foster informed public discourse on issues around SRHR and drive positive change,” Madam Wilson said.
The dialogue featured a panel discussion on ethical storytelling and a practical session led by experts, including Madam Christiana Saywah Jimmy, Managing Editor, Inquirer Newspaper, and media expert, Torwon Suluteh Brown. Brown guided participants on sourcing, identifying SRHR story angles, and assessing the community impact of their reporting. The session concluded with media practitioners drafting an action plan to sustain SRHR reporting beyond the one-day event.
Sharing his experience, Thompson Kruah of the New Dawn said community dwellers sometimes shy away from speaking with men about their experiences related to SRHR. He noted that the dialogue provided accurate knowledge on how to engage such matters ethically. Like Thompson, Vasta Tarlue of ELBC said the knowledge gained from the discussion would help improve her reportage on SRHR.
The Amplifying Rights Network is a coalition of ten community-based and national civil society organizations in Liberia focused on advancing SRHR through national advocacy, policy reform, and community-level education, particularly for women, youth, and marginalized groups. The network advocates against gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices while promoting access to health services and legal protection.
