South Asian women in Media-Sri Lanka, together with Sri Lanka Press Institute and UNDP in Sri Lanka, bring together women journalists

South Asian Women in Media-Sri Lanka (SAWM-SL) successfully conducted a comprehensive capacity-building workshop on ‘Gender-sensitive Disaster Reporting’ on 17 February, bringing together a select group of 25 journalists from print, broadcast and digital media platforms.

Held in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute, and technical partner, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, with support from Duryog Nivaran, the workshop sought to strengthen gender perspectives in post-disaster media coverage, following Cyclone Ditwah, promoting ethical, inclusive and socially accountable journalism in disaster contexts, in line with the priorities of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030).

The workshop featured a comprehensive and multidisciplinary agenda, with expert-led sessions on disaster risk reduction, lived experiences in post-disaster contexts and gender-sensitive journalism. Presentations were delivered by Madhavi Ariyabandu of Duryog Nivaran, Kumudini Samuel of the Women and Media Collective, and award-winning investigative journalist Dilrukshi Handunnetti, Trustee of South Asian Women in Media and Director of the Centre for Investigative Reporting Sri Lanka.

The speakers underscored the vital role of the media in disaster risk governance, highlighting the need to recognise and address the structural vulnerabilities faced by women, girls, persons with disabilities, the elderly and other marginalised communities during times of crisis. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, participants explored the importance of moving beyond event-driven coverage to examine the root causes of inequality and how they shape disaster preparedness, emergency response and long-term recovery efforts.

A documentary, titled ‘Facing Disasters, Making Decisions: Gender Dimensions’, produced in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, highlighted how women’s voices and needs were frequently overlooked in post-tsunami recovery and reconstruction processes. Participants reflected on the striking parallels between the issues documented two decades ago and the persistent gaps evident in current disaster responses, underscoring the continuing challenge of ensuring gender-inclusive recovery frameworks.

Throughout the workshop, participants explored gender-sensitive approaches to disaster reporting, ethical considerations, inclusive storytelling techniques, and practical steps to strengthen future coverage. Case studies, group work and participatory dialogue enabled participants to develop story ideas that foreground women’s leadership and community resilience.

SAWM-SL, with a 16-year history of advancing women in media, reiterated its commitment to supporting the media sector in building a more just, inclusive, and resilient Sri Lanka.