More gender-sensitive media reporting has become indispensable to free society from child marriage and gender disparity that needed to establish rights of the women, some working journalists told a meeting here today.
They viewed that the professional newsmen should take the responsibility of highlighting the gender- sensitive issues as objective reporting could be an effective tool of eliminating the existing barriers to establishing gender parity.Zero tolerance against all sorts of violence and repression against women and child marriage are very important for establishing their dignity in society and gender parity has become an urgent need to this end. Gender and Development Journalists Forum (GDJF) organised the journalists’ meeting at Public Library conference hall. Partner Sangstha, a women rights-based development organization, under its ‘Gender Development Project’ supported the meeting.Main thrust of the discussion was to sensitize the journalists how to expose the gender sensible issues and depict actual extent of violence against women through media.In her project-briefing speech, Alima Khatun Lima, Director (Programme) of Partner, said the gender-based reporting is very helpful to draw attention of the policymakers to the plights of the womenfolk.“We want to eliminate gender discrimination for more women empowerment,” she said adding media participation is needed to attain
the cherished goal.Akbarul Hassan Millat, President of Rajshahi Union of Journalists, who spoke on the occasion as a focal person, emphasized the need for large-scale gender equality for cherished national development.He mentioned that the issues of the women empowerment together with addressing women’s vulnerability are completely dependent on the substantial gender equality. “Media can play a vital role in this regard,” he added.With GDJF Convener Kazi Shahed in the chair, journalists Azizul Haque and Mamunur Rashid and Project Coordinator Yeamin Ali, Monitoring Officer Golam Jakir Hossain and Gender Development Officer Nilufar Ahmed also spoke on the occasion. -BSS, Rajshahi
