UN Women and IAWRT: Placing women at the heart of Elections
Date:
Ahead of the October 7 presidential elections, UN Women and the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Cameroon have sensitized over 40 media women to take interest in covering politics and gender sensitive elections coverage and positive portrayals of women during a seminar which took place on Friday, 21st September 2018.
A cross section of participants during the opening statement of Ngoro Joseph, UN Women Programme Specialist. Photo: UN Women/ Teclaire Same
While welcoming participants to the event Tchonko Becky Bissong, National President of IAWRT Cameroon highlighted the important role of women journalists in upholding the dignity and image of women. “Women in the media are voice of the voiceless and can make a better impact towards gender equality through subtle but deliberate gender sensitive reporting,” Mme Tchonko noted.
Ngoro Joseph, UN Women Programme Specialist used this seminar to reaffirm UN Women’s engagement to promote women’s leadership and political participation in Cameroon by providing technical support and capacity building to different stakeholders. “Women in media should be the biggest champions in the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women by highlighting gender issues in their coverage. UN Women is committed to support capacity building of media women who remain strategic enablers in promoting the gender equality” Ngoro added.
During the seminar, journalists were also sensitized on the electoral law and code of conduct during elections coverage and provided media women with practical tips on how to ensure balance, fair and gender sensitive reporting of elections. This seminar ended with a round table debate bringing together representatives of candidates in the 2018 presidential elections and civil society organisations to sensitize candidates for elections on the need to include the gender component in their agenda for national development.
This seminar was organised by the Leadership and Political Participation programme in view of promoting women’s participation in political processes and the gender agenda in the ongoing presidential elections. The goal is to promote 50-50 representation and participation of women and men in politics and leadership positions.