"Everyone has the right to freedom
of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions
without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas
through any media and regardless of borders"
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Article19
The area where the changing role
of women is beginning to make an impact is in the media.
The media in its many forms offers
opportunities for women to organise and propagate their concerns and demands.
For instance, information technology has given women new possibilities
to create a platform to diffuse their ideas. Women are now using the Internet
and web sites to strengthen their voice and made them visible to the public
at large. They have created a network which give them the opportunity to
be better informed and thus being in a more efficient position to defend
their rights. It also make it possible for them to be in contact with other
women thus realising a global sisterhood support system.
The APC
Women's Networking Support program agenda is to promote the advancement
of women by means of ICTs. This association believes that the net will
open doors to women and give them greater participation in decisions making.
They want to put forward 'alternatives and priorities'. It sees the net
as a tool to promote women in society. However, they are rightly concerned
that ICTs should not, through lack of access, become a new form of discrimination.
It is a welcoming thought that the
woman at home should have the support of these organisations. Being at
home raising children does not mean being isolated as it is often the case
with young mothers. Access to a computer in public places such as a library
is not easy with young children. Ownership of a computer is an investment
sometimes out of reach for the poorer families. These points raise issues
that must be addressed in the future to come.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform
for Action (summary) is concerned with the improvement of women's role.
It sees progress in women's changing role in the participation and involvement
in the making of the material used in the media. It declares that in what
ever form, the media should 'promote the equal sharing of family responsibilities'.
Regulations and codes of conduct should focus on 'a non-stereotype image'
of women. This site has links worth exploring. One particular site is Women
and the Media with similar directives.
An alternative to the vision of
Women and the media is presented by WomenAction
2000. It denounces the 'lack of sensitivity, promotion of consumerism,
and the increase in violent and pornographic images of women' in the media.
The portrayal of women in 'relatively low rank position in the media' is
also taken on board.
The link to the EU
European Womenlobby is a good one to explore because it has a strong
membership. It is 'the largest co-ordinating body of national and European
Union, and has '2,700 member associations' from '15 member states'. The
EWL takes action as part of its brief if and when needed. As a watchdog
it ensures equality between men and women.
