Awaz-e-Niswan held 2-Day training on “Gender Sensitive Reporting Skills and Media Raising Visibility of Women as Voters”. The training sessions were organized in Peshawar, Islamabad, and Karachi.
The purpose of the training was to focus on building the capacity of journalists who actively report on elections to make them understand and recognize how gender-sensitive reporting can not only serve to deliver free and fair election coverage, but also empower women to step forward and take a stand for their rights and issues as well as encourage more women to participate in the electoral process and become active voters.
Moreover, it focused on women’s interests and their influence as voters in the media. In addition to the objective of women’s interests the journalists were informed about different ways in which they can show women’s portrayal in media as a survivor, and not victims while following the basic rules of gender-sensitive and ethical journalism.
Peshawar
A two-day training on “Gender Sensitization of Journalists” was conducted in Peshawar from 27th and 28th January 2022. The training was held under the project JAZBA (Jamhooriyat aur Baikhtiyar Aurat) by Awaz-e-Niswan with the aid of South Asia Partnership – Pakistan (SAP-PK) and Aurat Foundation (AF), funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Participants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) attended the two day workshop. The training aimed to enhance the capacity of journalists on reporting that can increase the visibility and influence of women voters and to create awareness on women’s strategic and practical needs and interests. Mr. Aurangzeb Khan, a well-known media activist and development practitioner facilitated the two-day training. Journalists lauded the training workshop and emphasized on holding such workshops on regular basis.
Islamabad
A two day training workshop on “Gender Sensitization of Journalists” was held in Islamabad on 3rd and 4th February 2022. Training was attended by journalists from print and electronic media from Punjab. Training was conducted by Awaz-e-Niswan under the JAZBA project. Training aimed to shift the focus of reporting from a portrayal of women as victims to women as voters while following the basic rules of gender sensitive and ethical journalism and to enhance the capacity of journalists on reporting that can increase the visibility and influence of women voters. Participants actively participated and discussed issues faced by women voters of their areas and aimed to highlight those through their reporting.
Karachi
Awaz-e-Niswan conducted a two day training workshop on “Gender Sensitization of Journalists” in Karachi on 18th and 19th February, 2022 with the aid of South Asia Partnership – Pakistan (SAP-PK) and Aurat Foundation (AF). The training was attended by the journalists from Sindh and Balochistan.
The purpose of the training session was to improve the ability of journalists to report on the subject of gender, bringing gender sensitivity in their reporting and to increase the participation of women in politics and their role as journalists.
Ms. Tasneem Ahmar, Director UKS Research center facilitated the two-day training. The training sessions were conducive as the participants discussed issues of women in voting process and problems they face on media.