Gender Policies

Name of Article: Mobile service provider Name of Publication: Times of Zambia Date: 25 April, 2015 Country:  Zambia The above picture is among many other pictures where women’s bodies are to sell […]

For too long, the media in Southern Africa has portrayed women as victims of violence or objects of beauty À“ not as human beings with hopes and visions, dreams and aspirations. Can the media make a difference? This handbook lights the way.

Gender Links has urged media houses to sign and introduce a gender policy to guide them in their reporting. The organisation has already approached media houses to engage them in a campaign to drive implementation of the policy. Media consultant and co-owner of The Voice newspaper Beata Kasale, has been identified to spearhead the campaign that will engage news rooms in discussions towards changing their mindsets and approach to gender issues. The campaign also aims to empower women to rise to positions of management in their newsrooms. Speaking to Mmegi, Kasale said they again intended to encourage news rooms to intergrate women in management positions .She said a Gender Links study conducted in newsrooms last year had identified gaps that the campaign intended to bridge.

This policy aims to ensure gender balance and gender sensitivity at all levels. The MBC recognises its responsibility to achieve the objectives of the policy and to act as an agent for promoting gender equality in the rest of society.

Hands up anyone reading this who is aware that 18 percent of members of parliament in Southern Africa are women and that this percentage is higher than in the United States and Europe? Ever heard any discussion of this in the media? Now imagine that an ethnic or racial group in any one of our countries represented 55 percent of the population, but only had 18 percent of the seats in parliament.

Vision
– A station that reflects our community.
– Gender sensitive/responsive institution in editorial content, marketing/advertising.
– Challenging stereotypes.
– Leading the way

Draft gender and policy action plan for the region’s main advocacy and lobbying network on issues of media freedom.

This report summarises the Zambian workshop on Covering Gender Violence convened by Gender Links and ZAMCOM from 5-9 November 2001.