Media firms urged to encourage gender equality
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.