The data collection process for research report (The Role of Media in Reducing/Increasing Violence against Women) has been started in July-02-2017.
35 target respondents were participated in the survey, and one focus group meeting were held to discuss the topic and the result of survey. Out of 20 respondents, 10 female including women rights activists, female media employees, and 10 male respondents including ordinary people and women rights activists were participated in the survey.

The research has aimed to find out the role of media in reducing/increasing the violence against women. We have conducted survey and focus group interview to know the impact of media on women’s situation based on in-depth study and their individual experiences.

Following the survey, we have done a focus group interview in July-15-2017 in Kabul province. 10 participants including civil society activist, women rights activists, representatives from Musharakat project, media advocacy groups, journalists, media owners, directorate of information and culture, and directorate of women affairs, were participated in the focus group meeting.

The focus group meeting has been conducted for 2.5 hours. The agenda of meeting were: (1) introduction about promote project, (2) introduction about DSAWCO, (3) the research objective, (4) types of violence applied on women through media, (5) the impact of media on society, (6) violence against women in media organizations, and working environment, (7) the causes and effect of spreading violence through media on women.

In the end, the participants have provided their recommendations about the improvement of media programs, and campaign against violence and through media, and the method of advocacy to achieve these objectives. It was recommended that more professional journalists to be employed in media organizations, gender should be included in the media policy, the law of prohibition of violence in media organizations should be drafted, prohibition of humiliating advertisement, and establishment of joint monitoring committee to monitor the media programs before broadcasting. Also the media should broadcast educational programs about law, and support the cultural values such as tolerance. The meeting participants has summarized the discussion and decision was made to form and advocacy group to follow up the implementation of the recommendation.