November 23, 2007	Friday	Ziqa’ad 12, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: The media must focus on objective and proactive reporting of women’s rights issues without any preconceived gender biases and stereotypical jargons. This observation was made by representatives of various social organisations at the inauguration of a two-day training workshop on “Women’s rights and gender sensitive reporting” organised by Action Aid here on Thursday.

They said that while reporting crimes against women, journalists should focus on the perpetrator of the crime instead of victimising the victim through hard words and subjective connotations.

The root cause of women’s exclusion and subjection lies in the deeply entrenched patriarchal institutions, local customs, beliefs and socio-political systems. Increasing violence against women, trafficking, lack of access to and control over land and other natural resources, discriminatory wages, restrained political participation, lack of reproductive choice and sexual freedom are common in all the South Asian countries including Pakistan, they said.

Shafqat Munir, journalist and media trainer, said source, context and language were three major areas that require an indepth deliberation on part of responsible journalists to stay within the parameters of gender sensitive reporting, that requires them to study the case thoroughly and do their homework before filing news.

Media must work hand in hand with the civil society and women’s rights activists to challenge the prevalent power structure in the society that imply women’s subjugation and exclusion.

Tasneem Ahmar, director Uks research centre for women, said due to the culture of silence, violence against women went unreported and there was a need to initiate public debate on the successes and struggles around issue of violence against women.

Media has an important role to play in promoting and safeguarding women’s rights, educating the people so that it can elicit behavioural changes necessary to facilitate the process of development, she said.

Prof Syed Abdul Siraj, chairman mass communication department at the Allama Iqbal Open University, said media can perform a positive role by involving and guiding people about human rights.