The Gambia Press Union (GPU) has called for gender equality in Gambian media as it celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD 2022) under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.
“While this year’s theme recognises the contribution of women and girls who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all, the GPU believes it is important to highlight the gender inequalities that exist in the Gambian media. Women journalists play a crucial role in the development of the Gambian media, working as presenters, reporters, editors, technicians, managers and media proprietors.
“Despite their contributions to the growth of the media industry and to national development, there exist gaps in terms of gender equality in newsrooms and among media workers. A study on the Working Conditions of Media Workers in The Gambia conducted by the GPU in 2020 shows that 37% of media workers are female. While this shows that the media is largely dominated by men, the report also shows that significant gaps exist when conditions for both men and women are compared at all levels – in terms pay, positions held, and even treatment.
“That research led to the development of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) aimed at addressing the issues of poor wages, late payment of salaries and a lack of other essential employee benefits,” the union said.
“To have working conditions improved for women journalists, and by extension, all media workers, is crucial to attaining any efforts at gender equality in the Gambian media and enhancing professionalism and wellbeing,” GPU Secretary General, Modou S. Joof, said, adding “The GPU is committed to continue engaging media owners and managers to address these challenges.”
According to the research, on working conditions, which was funded by the Civil Society Fund (CISU), 46 percent of respondents said they faced discrimination in their workplaces based on gender and family circumstances.
Also in 2020, the GPU commissioned and published a Report on Sexual Harassment in the Media which shows that sexual harassment is prevalent. This informed the drafting of a Sexual Harassment Policy for the Media in The Gambia. Both the study and the policy were produced through a “Breaking the Gender Barrier” project with funded by UNESCO through The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM).
“Issues of sexual harassment and discrimination are factors that undoubtedly militate against efforts to attain gender equality in media houses, and needs to be tackled,” GPU President, Muhammed S. Bah, said. “The adoption of the GPU policy on sexual harassment by media houses will set in motion the implementation of mechanisms to prevent sexual harassment in newsrooms and media entities.”