Introduction
|
[need caption]
(click to enlarge)
|
The progress made in recent years by the media and new communication
and information technologies has opened new possibilities to make women's
contribution to society visible. It has enabled women to organize and
communicate across national, regional and international boundaries.
This progress has allowed the construction
of a global communications network that transcends national borders and
influences state policies, private attitudes, and social behaviour. The
media is the nerve centre of expression, producing and transmitting information
it considers important to society. Through the media, public opinion is
generated, strengthened, and nourished. For this reason media must represent
appropriately the pluralism of images and discourses generated by society,
in particular, those produced by women, because they also have the right
to take part in this public conversation. It is important, then, that
media content respects plurality and the diversity of voices, images,
and words in favour of gender equity and justice.
There has been a fair debate and dialogue
in the past years on the nexus between women, media, and communications.
There has been criticism on the use of women's bodies to promote sales
or increase audience. Several studies have shown that little progress
has been made in these issues. But this has not diminished women's work
to overcome discrimination, stereotypes, and cultural bias. On the contrary,
it has challenged them to work strategically to place their new roles
in private and public life, and their contribution to civil society. Women
want to build an integral vision of themselves as citizens and subjects
of communications with equal rights and opportunities.
This section is dedicated to different
models of communications and ways of influencing the media that women
have put into action in many countries around the world in order to make
progress in gender equity in the communications arena.
These best practice models have been
selected because of what has been achieved and the resulting successes
in the countries or regions. They have a multiplier effect; they can be
replicated in and adapted to other regions; have a broad participation
base; are sustainable and innovative; and represent efforts made by many
women and women's organizations to promote change and a positive impact
of gender perspective in the media.
These best practices have been selected
based on the following categories:
- Outreach to media
- Advocacy
- Media watch
- Codes and standards
- Use of new information and communications technology
|