The SADC PF is an autonomous body of SADC, made up of 13 parliaments who represent thousands of parliamentarians in the region.
If approved, the draft protocol will strengthen and complement already existing statutes on both gender and the media. The adoption came after a three day deliberation of the paper by SADC delegates and other stakeholders in Harare, at a regional summit on media, gender and children which was hosted by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists.
Speaking at the summit, SADC-PF Secretary General, Esau Chiviya said lack of clear guiding policies in the media was promoting gender discrimination and urged media houses to adopt and implement gender policies that promote gender equality.
“There is need for media houses to mainstream gender in their code of conduct and policies. They should adopt and implement gender ethical principles, codes of practice and policies in accordance with the protocol,” he said.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists Secretary General, Foster Dongozi, acknowledged that most media houses in the region were lagging behind in addressing gender imbalances affecting women and children in the media hence the adoption of a Draft Protocol on Media and Gender.
“We are going to use this draft protocol to lobby regional presidents to adopt and strengthen already existing statutes on gender and media.
The issue of imbalances in the media is a regional issue which is affecting women and children mostly. “There is unequal and unfair gender representation in media organisations when it comes to the portrayal of women and children.
There are also issues to do with sexual harassment and gender discrimination (that need to be addressed),” said Dongozi.
Apart from leading the advocacy strategy, resolutions were made to enhance the status of women journalists by addressing issues that affect young journalists.
The summit was attended by participants from Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius and Mozambique.
Other countries in attendance included Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia.
SADC-PF is mandated with promoting human rights, gender equality, good governance and democracy, as well as advising Sadc on pertinent issues affecting the region.
Post published in: News