Firdous asks female journalists to transform challenges into opportunities

Firdous asks female journalists to transform challenges into opportunities

ISLAMABAD, Apr 16 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Saturday the female journalists, instead of getting bogged down by challenges being faced at workplace, should transform them into opportunities.Speaking as chief guest at two-day workshop on “Gender discrimination and capacity building of female journalists”, here at National Press Club, she asked the female journalists not to remain silent over any incident of harassment so that the perpetrator does not have courage to repeat his ugly act in future. The Information Minister called for behavioral change to end concept of gender bias in the noble profession of journalism. Despite the fact that the female journalists face many problems in discharge of their duties, but instead of getting bogged down by such hurdles, they should transform these challenges into opportunities, she said. She said that economic empowerment of women who constitute over 50 per cent of the population, was the mission of the present people’s government. The Minister opined that there was a need to form women media organizations in all major cities and a Women Journalist Forum should be constituted at the national level to give voice to women journalists. She said that the government was ready not only to cooperate but patronize women journalists’ initiatives for their empowerment and would utilize all its resources for capacity building of female mediapersons so that they can play constructive role in nation building process. The government, she said, was planning to launch the pilot project of Media University under Information Ministry and talks were being held with China in this regard and women journalists would constitute important part of that project, so that women’s role in national media can be enhanced. Such workshops should also be held at divisional and district headquarters level so that the women of those areas can also benefit from this initiative, she stressed. The Minister assured the female journalists that she would raise the issue with the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) to ensure that no harassment takes place in future. She told the participants of the workshop that the recommendations to be given by this workshops would be implemented and replicated all over the country. She also lauded NPC President Afzal Butt, who as elected representative of the media community has taken this great initiative on the sensitive but important issue of harassment of female journalists at workplace. Dr Firdous Ashiq said that women who are playing important role in the field of journalism at the regional level, have been mobilized at the federal level and transformed into a national force. She appreciated the NPC for providing the female journalists an opportunity to sit together to find solution to problems. She said that after thorough consultations,best practices should be introduced in the journalistic organizations.