Media practitioners have again been tasked to take up their role as watchdog by beaming searchlights on human rights and gender-based violence against persons living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

The charge was given, yesterday, in Taraba State, during the gender and human rights state response team first quarter meeting for 2023.

The Gender and Human Rights Focal Person of Taraba State AIDS Control Agency (TACA), Charity Yakubu, charged journalists on increased reportage of gender-based and human rights violence to reduce the incidence.

Yakubu, who spoke on “Involving and Maximising the Use of Media in Campaigning Against Gender Inequalities and Human Rights Violation Issues in the State,” urged journalists, as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, to be at the forefront of addressing gender and human rights violence in the country.

Charity, who also argued that gender and human rights related issues are vital in the fight against HIV/AIDS, urged journalists to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that “gender-based issues are being preached in all organisations.”

In her presentation, Mercy Garba urged media practitioners to expose those who derive joy in trampling on the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS, irrespective of their positions in the society. She said that with all hands on deck, violence against persons living with HIV/AIDS would soon be a thing of the past in the state and the nation at large.