Media firms urged to encourage gender equality

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Journalists ended a three-day discussion on gender in the media here on Sunday, calling on all media firms, labor unions and other organizations to provide equal opportunities to both male and female press workers.

Hosted by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the event, which was attended by 30 journalists and representatives of journalists' organizations, produced a gender equality charter.

The charter calls on respective organizations to apply gender equity in access to training programs and work choices based on the skills of a person; access to impartial assignments; career upgrading based on experience, capability, productivity and achievement; as well as equal remuneration.

It also urges the application of gender equity principles in terms of all employees receiving equal treatment in the workplace, including working conditions, working hours, time off, paid annual holidays, health insurance, work security, other benefits connected with work assignments, and equal promotion opportunities.

For journalists as parents, the forum recommended that they be also be given equal rights. These included an extension in maternal leave from three months to six months, the granting of paternal leave, equal health benefits for both parents and -- under special circumstances -- more flexibility in working hours.

The forum also urged media organizations and companies to clearly define harassment against journalists, and the sanctions to be applied against offenders.

This also involved providing legal assistance for journalists sexually harassed by news sources or any one else in connection with their work.

Meanwhile, labor unions and journalists' organizations were urged to pay more attention to membership by women journalists.

One of the efforts that could be made to increase women's participation would be to set up units dedicated to women's empowerment.

Labor unions were also to campaign for gender equality within their membership and leadership structures.

The forum said media companies needed to be more sensitive in reporting and disseminating news stories by putting gender issues on their lists of priorities.

This, says the charter, means adhering to gender equality principles in covering events, and avoiding stereotyping.