Capacity-Building Workshop on Gender-Sensitive Disaster Reporting Following Cyclone Ditwah

SAWM-SL successfully organized and conducted a half-day, capacity-building workshop on ‘Gender-Sensitive Disaster Reporting’ on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, bringing together a select group of 25 female journalists from print, broadcast and digital media with the aim of strengthening gender perspectives in post-disaster media coverage, recovery and rebuilding efforts following Cyclone Ditwah.

Held in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka as technical partner, and with support from Duryog Nivaran, sough to equip women journalists with practical tools to better identify, frame and report on the gender-differentiated impacts of disasters, ensuring that women’s experiences, needs and leadership roles are accurately and ethically reflected in media coverage. Sessions encouraged participants to move beyond event-based reporting and examine the structural inequalities that shape disaster preparedness, response and long-term recovery.

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

The programme featured a presentation on gender and disaster risk reduction by Madhavi Ariyabandu of UNDP; an overview of women’s experiences during Cyclone Ditwah’s response and recovery by Kumudini Samuel of the Women and Media Collective; and a session on journalistic perspectives in disaster reporting by award-winning investigative journalist, SAWM Trustee and Director Centre for Investigative Reporting, Dilrukshi Handunnetti.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in interactive discussions, case studies and practical exercises designed to develop story themes and draft reports highlighting women’s leadership and contributions to community resilience. The sessions addressed ethical considerations, inclusive storytelling strategies and actionable steps to advance gender-sensitive reporting in future disaster coverage.

By fostering participatory dialogue and skills development, the initiative reinforced the critical role of media in disaster risk governance and accountability, with SAWM-SL reiterating its commitment to supporting journalists in promoting equitable narratives that amplify the voices of women, girls, persons with disabilities, the elderly and other marginalised groups disproportionately affected by disasters, contributing to a more just, inclusive and resilient Sri Lanka.

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