Group tasks media on gender equality, women reportage

A non-profit organisation, Centre for Gender Economics Initiative (CGE Africa), has urged the media to concentrate more on reportage of gender equality and women representation in the society.

Executive Director, CGE Africa, Uchenna Idoko, who gave the task during a media briefing in Lagos, at the weekend, said equality of people, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, religion, economic status and so on had become a critical agenda of this age.

According to her, research and international reports have confirmed that women are more disadvantaged in many social aspects. Though the degrees may vary, they are oppressed all over the country.

Idoko, who noted that women control only a tiny percentage of Nigeria’s resources, have limited access to education and employment, and remain marginalised and excluded, said older women were vulnerable to abuse and violence because of discriminatory societal attitudes and non-realisation of human rights, adding that this is often exacerbated by poverty and lack of access to legal protection.

According to her, the press has the influential power to challenge and change people’s perceptions and behaviour and impact policy and practice dialogues.

“Today, CGE Africa underlines the need to address the continuous negative and degrading images of women projected through media content, including advertisements, especially in the digital space. We call for action to intensify the media’s role in balancing unequal gender relations and promoting gender equality and older women’s empowerment.”

Idoko said women and the media were among the 12 critical Beijing Platform for action areas.

She said the Beijing Action plan also underline the need to address the continuous negative and degrading images of women projected through media content, including advertisements.

“It called for an action to intensify the media’s role in balancing unequal gender relations and promoting gender equality. The time to act is now.”