CSW 69 Forum 

Section J of the Beijing Declaration: Gains and Reversals

This thought-provoking parallel session, on March 18, 2025, organized by IAWRT USA, had on the panel Birgitte Jallov, Prof. Olga Jurasz, Jennifer Pozner, Racheal Nakitare and Hawa Taylor-Kamara Diallo, and was moderated by Sheila Katzman. 

In 1995, in Beijing, proactive media women – including a number of IAWRT’s veteran members like Frieda Werden – worked together to bring in the section J within the Beijing Declaration, focusing on ensuring a proper representation at all levels of women in the media – and an appropriate portrayal of women in the media, regarding the media not only as channels, but as important feminist platforms, not only for expression but also for interpretation of ‘the world’ through the eyes of women – for women and all other genders. 

So, on March 18, the panelists, representing important perspectives within and around the media, met to take stock of section J of the Beijing declaration focusing on ‘women and media’. In their review they focused on gains and reversals  – covering the broad spectrum from women’s role in the media and portrayal of women, over AI and SoMe and its effect on women in and outside the media and on to the transformatory potential of community media in women’s lives. 

The panel was well attended, both physically and virtually, by IAWRT members and many others concerned with the role of women in the media.