The UN Commission on the Status of Women will be meeting in New York in March, on the theme of the 15th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, passed at the fourth UN World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.
One section of that declaration, relating to media, has been consistently neglected, and women's media groups have worked hard, first to get this language into the document, and then to try to raise awareness and get action upon it. I think many of our groups would like to make a statement that we are still behind this declaration and are promoting women's access to media through our own efforts on a regular basis throughout the years.
I, Frieda Warden of Wings have taken the liberty of reserving a full-page ad in the NGO handbook that will be distributed to non-governmental groups during this meeting, containing valuable information such as strategic documents.
Below is the proposed text of our ad. Please email wings@wings.org if your group will sign on. If you can afford to make a $20 contribution toward the costs of the ad (estimated at about $150) would be much appreciated. Anything received over and above the cost of producing and placing the ad will be placed into a scholarship for journalism education for Leah Murugui, a young producer from a slum community radio station in Nairobi. (More information about her scholarship upon request).
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Women's Media Organizations Celebrate Section J of the Beijing Platform for Action
Strategic objective J.1. Increase the participation and access of women to expression and decision-making in and through the media and new technologies of communication
Strategic objective J.2. Promote a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in the media
WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service www.wings.org
Women's News Network http://womennewsnetwork.net/
*International Association of Women in Radio and Television www.iawrt.org
*AMARC Women's Network www.amarc.org
*Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press www.wifp.org
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* [asterisk] before the name means invited, but has not yet confirmed. Please send your suggestions for women's media groups to invite, or just forward the email to the groups of your choosing.
I have reserved our full-page ad space on my credit card, so anyone who can make a contribution to share this expense can do so by check to WINGS at
WINGS
Box 95090, Kingsgate
Vancouver BC V5T 3W5
Canada
Or, I can accept a paypal donation using this email: cjsfpa@sfu.ca
Again, the ad is not expensive, but if you want to add anything more towards the Leah Murugui scholarship fund at the same time, that would be great!
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Frieda Werden, Series Producer
WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service www.wings.org
604-876-6994
