Newsroom gender policy roll-out gains momentum

Gender Links is slowly but surely edging closer to its target of 100 newsroom gender policies by June 2011. This is in line with the requirements of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development which calls on the media to create enabling environments for the achievement of gender equality by 2015.

Eight gender policies were launched in Malawi and Madagascar in February along with an additional 29 policies adopted in Tanzania. Six policies were launched in Malawi during the launch of the GMPS and GIME studies on 31 January. Two were launched in Madagascar on 15 February during the GMPS and GIME launches. It is particularly encouraging that the Madagascar national radio and television have adopted gender policies. The Tanzania policies will be launched in mid-March.

In Zimbabwe there has been steady progress with the Zimbabwe Newspapers (Zimpapers) group giving buy-in for the gender policy roll-out. Zimpapers has 11 newsrooms, including Namibian-based Southern Times.

In March GL will conduct an inception workshop for Mozambican media and the regulator MCM. A significant number of newsrooms have indicated willingness to work with GL on gender policies there. This project will be given added impetus by the launch of the GL Mozambique office, which will coordinate in-country activities.