Authors

Discussion

Gender-based violence (GBV) significantly escalates during armed conflicts, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations within war zones. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has exposed civilians, particularly women, children, and displaced individuals, to intensified GBV risks. 

This paper analyzes the media coverage of GBV within the war in Ukraine, with a particular focus on The Guardian's reporting practices. Reporting on GBV carries the risk of perpetuating harmful narratives and stereotypes about victims, utilizing sensational language, and favoring euphemisms over accurate terminology. The objective is to assess how effectively The Guardian adheres to ethical journalism standards - primarily safety, confidentiality, dignity, and survivor rights.

The findings reveal extensive forms of GBV documented during the ongoing war in Ukraine, including mass rape, threats of rape, forced nudity, and sexual violence against children. These atrocities are reported as deliberate tactics of war by Russian forces. The Guardian emphasizes that GBV serves as a weapon for psychological manipulation, community destabilization, and cultural erasure, aiming to terrorize, dominate, and control populations.

The Guardian’s journalistic approach emphasizes survivor protection by anonymizing identities, avoiding graphic imagery, and using trigger warnings in its articles to prevent retraumatization. Additionally, the media prioritizes ethical visual elements, opting for illustrations, forensic imagery, and non-identifiable visuals that convey the gravity of GBV without exploiting or sensationalizing the survivor’s experience.