By Nasratu Kargbo
The Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy Rev.Alusine Diamond-Suma has said that gender equality is a prerequisite for human rights, democracy, and social justice, adding that it is beneficial to society.
Suma was speaking at a training held on the 14th June 2023 for members of Sierra Leone Press Gallery (SLPPG) on gender-sensitive reporting. He stated that human rights statutes ban all forms of discrimination on the grounds of gender.
“Women and men can suffer from the standards imposed by gender stereotypes and sexist reporting in the media. For these reasons, there is need to have a frank conversation on how to promote equal access to media work and management and how this work can create a thriving gender perspective in Parliament”, said Suma.
The Interim President of the Parliamentary Press Gallery Rev. Vincent Jabbie Momoh said the training is in a bid to change social mindsets and negative attitude toward women and to influence the acceptance of women’s role and participation in decision-making.
According to Momoh, attitudes toward women are generally reinforced by bad media publicity and noted other factors such as political propaganda, male patriarchy; capacity, education, and financial dependence serve as a weakness to their participation in parliament.
In her PowerPoint Presentation on how the media can promote women’s voices in parliament, Facilitator and Deputy Dean, Faculty of Media, Information and Communication Studies, Dr. Williette James said members of the SLPPG can promote female lawmakers through their feature articles, editorials, radio and television discussions, and documentaries, among others.
She called on parliamentary reporters to promote female parliamentarians by profiling good orators that are knowledgeable on issues that are debated in parliament. Dr. James stated that in profiling female lawmakers, one should focus on those that are confident, and have vision and other good qualities.
Dr. James said gender empowerment does not mean empowering women alone but looking at the sex that is lacking behind in all aspects of development and privileges.
The Facilitator said in Sierra Leone the focus is on women due to statistics that have shown that they are far behind in all spheres, noting that premium is given to their male counterparts. She noted that placing them on an equal playing field is what gender empowerment is about.
The President of Giuld of Editors, Donald Theo Harding called on parliamentary reporters to report on proceedings and issues in parliament and not serve as Public Relations Officers by promoting, defending and supporting members of parliament.
He urged them to ensure that they are always objective, reminding them that they are journalists and not politicians.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (16/06/23)
