Media experts to hold discussion on Women and Media 25 Years After the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

 

This event will take place on Friday, March 27^th from 10:00am -11:30 am NY time on the Zoom virtual Platform, https://zoom.us/j/832520834, ID: 832 520 834.

 

 

New York City, NY (March 23, 2020) – Media women from the United States, Kenya, and the United Nations will assess the progress made on roles and images of women in media since the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 and the adoption of Section J of the Declaration for women and the media.

 

Section J: Women and Media  of the Beijing Declaration Section J(pge 8) highlights that “sexist stereotypes displayed in the media are gender discriminatory, degrading in nature and offensive (para. 243(e))” and that media “has an impact on public policy, private attitudes and behavior… Everywhere the potential exists for the media to make a far greater contribution to the advancement of women (para 234).”

 

Patricia Gallagher Newberry, the 103rd national President of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and Director of Journalism at Miami University in Ohio, will moderate the event. Newberry brings decades of expertise in media. 

 

The Discussants include: 

–       Dr. Michelle Ferrier, Dean of the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida; She is founder of TrollBusters.com, protecting journalists from online violence, abuse or other troll behavior.

–       Dr. Purna Sen, Executive Coordinator and Spokesperson at UN Women on Addressing

–       Dr. Courtney Radsch, Advocacy Director at the Committee to Protect Journalists(CPJ)

–       Dr. Diana Nastasia, international lecturer and scholar, Faculty Fellow at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 

–       Rachael Nakitare, a veteran broadcast journalist and Acting Television Programs Manager for state-run Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

–        Marry Ferreira, IAWRT-USA NGO Youth Representative at the United Nations, Master’s student in Public Media at Fordham University.

 

This event is organized in collaboration with the Committee to Protect Journalist – CPJ, Women-In Media/Newark and the Women’s International Newsgathering Service – WINGS.

 

This event was one of over 400 NGO CSW/NY parallel events scheduled to take place at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 64) in New York in March. CSW64 is the biggest conference of the United Nations bringing women together from around the world to advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women. It has been cancelled due to the Corona Virus pandemic.

 

IAWRT-USA (www.iawrtusa.org) is one of 14 chapters of IAWRT International (www.iawrt.org).  Founded in the 1950s by professional women working in the electronic and allied media, IAWRT is committed to the enhancement of women’s role and participation in media as gender equality cannot be achieved without gender parity in media and communication. IAWRT-USA is a non-government organization (NGO) with 501(c) 3 Tax Exempt status and has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UN Department of Global Communication. 

 

If interested, please contact IAWRT-USA — www.iawrtusa.org – email: [email protected] sheilad@[email protected].

 

https://zoom.us/j/832520834
Meeting ID: 832 520 834
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The handbook is written by IAWRT Vice President Abeer Saady. The Arabic edition is edited by Emad Nasif.

IAWRT, in cooperation with The Journalism and Media International Center (JMIC) of Oslo Met. University has launched an updated Arabic-language edition of the Safety handbook for Women Journalists.

The handbook was produced with the support of UNESCO, entitled “What if …?”. Since November 2017, when the English edition of the handbook was launched, it became one of the most important occupational safety guides for female journalists worldwide. It was used as a reference in many trainings coursed organized by JMIC in several countries. UNESCO and UN Women and other international organizations promoted it in their events and documents. Two academic researchers in Australia and Norway evaluated it.

With the increase in the number of attacks on women journalists, and with the continued and increasing exposure to risks, especially in some countries of the Middle East, the Arabic edition comes from the guide, which includes practical experiences for women journalists and correspondence around the world, especially in conflict and armed conflict areas.

In a serious attempt, the Arabic edition of the handbook charts a path for women journalists, for their safety.  Through eleven titles, on risk assessment, profile management, gendered based violence and harassment, travel safety, digital safety, equipment safety, crowd management, kidnapping, detention and psychological safety, Social, Ethical Safety Decisions, dealing with survivors and coverage of epidemics (case study coronavirus covid19) and other titles, the handbook urges women journalists to reduce risks and protect themselves from all forms of threat. 

Saady, writer of the handbook, is a journalist and professional safety expert – trained hundreds of women journalists in conflict areas of the world . The English edition is edited by Nonee Walsh.

The JMIC hopes, that guide would be an important step for the safety of Arabic-speaking female journalists, as was the English edition before, and as we hope for future editions in other languages.

The guide is issued in a smooth language, taking into account the nature of the profession in speed and accuracy.

The JMIC reiterates that it is primarily aimed at this guide; helping Arab women journalists to perform their duties safely, safely and professionally.

 

Find the Arabic version of the IAWRT Safety Handbook attached below. You may also find it here.

On Countering Negative Social Norms and Discriminatory Practices

The discussion will revolve on addressing governments and international organizations actions to promote a balanced portrayal of women and girls and their multiple roles in the media.

IAWRT, IAWRT USA chapter, Government of Malawi, Government of Trinidad and Tobago, in cooperation with SADC Gender Protocal Alliance, Gender Links and Empowerhouse will hold a side event at the 64th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW64).

The discussion will be moderated by Birgitte Jallov, IAWRT Organisational Development Committee Co-chair and Founder and Director of EMPOWERHOUSE. EMPOWERHOUSE is an organization based in Denmark that assists communities, facilitators, funders and governments with finding integrated solutions to create and strengthen community radio.

Panelists include Hon. Mary Thom Navicha, Malawi Minister for Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare; H.E. Ambassador Pennelope Beckles, Permanent Representative of The Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations; Emma Kayila, Chairperson of the SADC Gender Protocol Alliance and Board Member Gender Links; Sifisosami Dube, Head of Policy & Movement Building of Gender Links, South Africa; and, Josephine Karani from the Media and Broadcasting at Parliament of Kenya and IAWRT Kenya Chapter Head.

The Side Event will be held on March 19, 1:15pm – 2:30pm, UN Headquarters, 405 East 42nd Street, New York (room to be announced).

Contact: [email protected]. Kindly RSVP by close of business of March 13, if you do not have a UN grounds pass. Provide us with your full name as it appears in your government-issued ID.