Getting the balance right: gender equality in journalism; 2009 - Fokus

FOREWORDThe designation of gender equality as one of two global prioritiesof the Organization in its Medium-Term Strategy for 2008-2013 has placed this critical objective on the forefront ofUNESCO’s strategic focus. This priority will be pursued througha two-pronged approach: (i) gender-specific programming and(ii) gender mainstreaming with action in all of UNESCO’s fields ofcompetence: education, the sciences, culture, and communicationand information and will apply to all levels of interventions frompolicy development, awareness raising and advocacy, research, toinstitutional capacity building and training.As a contribution to this strategic commitment UNESCO hasdeveloped a companion document to the Medium-Term Strategyentitled the UNESCO Priority Gender Equality Action Plan 2008-2013, which provides a road map to translate the ideals of UNESCOregarding the pursuit of gender equality into a practical and resultsbasedactivity for the 6 years covered by the medium-term strategy.UNESCO believes that all forms of discrimination on the basisof gender are violations of human rights, and a significant barrierto peace, sustainable development and the achievement of allinternationally recognized development goals.We are mindful of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Actionadopted unanimously at the United Nations Fourth World Conferenceon Women (4-15 September 1995). Among many other critical areasof concern, the Declaration clearly recognized the potential of themedia to make a greater contribution to the advancement of women.It called on governments and international development organisationsto take action to address “stereotyping of women and inequality inwomen’s access to and participation in all communication systems,especially in the media”.IIGENDER EQUALITY IN JOURNALISM