Organization of American States (OAS)
Committee of Experts expresses its concern for the journalistic approach to femicide cases
By CIM OAS
Nov 21, 2015 - 12:34:37 PM

Washington D.C.  – In the Framework of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which starts on November 25th on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends on December 10^th, on the Human Rights Day, the Committee of Experts of the Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI), expresses its concern for the journalistic approach of some media outlets to femicide cases, which promote the re-victimization of murdered women, perpetuate sexist stereotypes and contribute to the normalization of violence against women.

After a revision by the Committee of several media outlets, it has been noted that femicide is commonly related to crimes of passion. In multiple cases, the headline or focus of the news is concentrated on the reasons that led the aggressor to commit the crime, such as jealousy, alcohol, drugs, infidelity, and provocation by the victim, among others. This does not only make the seriousness of the act invisible, but also promotes violence against women directly or indirectly.

The Committee recalls that article 7 of the Convention of Belém do Pará states the obligation of States Party to “condemn all forms of violence against women and (…) pursue, by all appropriate means and without delay, policies to prevent, punish and eradicate such violence”.

In its Declaration on Femicide, the Committee recommended the media to “adopt codes of ethics to deal with cases of violence against women, especially femicides, promoting respect for the dignity and integrity of victims and avoiding the dissemination of morbid details and sexist or degrading stereotypes of women”. Furthermore, in the Declaration of Pachuca (2014), the Committee called on the media to self-regulate and to assume the responsibility inherent to the diffusion of this crime, and additionally, calls on the States to comply with the international standards, observing freedom of expression; and to promote gender training with a multi-cultural approach in the curricular program of all the levels of journalism, publicity and communication.

The Committee of Experts is the technical organism of the MESECVI, responsible for the analysis and evaluation of the process of implementation of the Convention of Belém do Pará. It’s composed by independent Experts, designated among its nationals by each of the States Party, whom exercise their faculties in a personal capacity

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