INSENSITIVE and irresponsible reporting on sexual harassment and rape increasingly puts survivor鈥檚 privacy, safety and mental well-being at serious risk. While established media outlets generally try to follow basic ethical standards in reporting sexual violence such as respecting victims and safeguarding the identity, online platforms, social media-based pages and informal news sites routinely violate basic journalistic principles. These platforms often entirely fail to uphold the privacy and dignity of survivors through intrusive, sensationalist and inconsiderate coverage, often leading to further trauma, social ostracisation and, in some cases, suicide or displacement from the houses. The recent case of Muradnagar, Cumilla rape shows the harm caused by such reporting. The survivor, raped, tortured and filmed at night on June 26, was compelled to leave her house by relentless media pressure and large crowds gathering outside the house. Even members of her family were forced to leave, fearing further harassment and unwanted exposure. Despite the gravity of the crime, several national and local media outlets have subjected the survivor to distressing interviews filled with inappropriate and invasive questions, seemingly aimed at sensationalising the story, with little to no regard for the victim鈥檚 emotional state or right to privacy.
The High Court on June 29 ordered the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police in Cumilla to ensure the survivor鈥檚 security. The court also instructed the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to remove in 24 hours any video clips of the incident doing the rounds online. Additionally, it issued a rule asking public authorities to explain why disclosing the victim鈥檚 identity and allowing the viral spread of such a sensitive content online should not be deemed illegal and unconstitutional. Yet, by then, the victim鈥檚 privacy has already been grossly compromised as the videos spread widely across online platforms and the social media. Legal and human rights experts say that the circulation of such content constitutes a grave violation of human rights. At the same time, insensitive media coverage often inflicts irreversible psychological damage on survivors. Women鈥檚 rights advocates point out that the rising incidence of suicides among victims of sexual harassment can be significantly attributed to reckless media behaviour and trial-by-media dynamics. Many victims having survived the initial trauma of harassment or assault struggle to endure the prolonged emotional toll left on by irresponsible reporting that subjects them to further humiliation and psychological distress.
Given the serious consequences, both media houses and regulatory authorities should address this issue with urgency and sincerity. Media outlets should prioritise gender-sensitive reporting and invest in training reporters to ensure that the coverage of sexual violence respects and protects the victim鈥檚 dignity and privacy at every step.
