Enhancing Gender Equality in the Media in Eastern Africa

The IFJ’s 24th Congress in Seoul, Korea in 2001 was groundbreaking by “Setting Standards” aiming to promote gender equity in journalism. As a global federation of journalists and other media workers unions, the IFJ made gender balance compulsory for delegations to the congress, allowing a great number of female journalists and unionists to attend the congress and debate on gender equality and equity.

The onus is now on IFJ affiliates, journalists and media workers trade unions and organisations to keep up the momentum to make gender equity a value in the daily practice in the media industry. In West Africa, the IFJ supported in 2006 a survey on the status of gender equity and equality in the media; the findings of the survey led to plans by the journalists unions to address gender issues.

The survey in Eastern Africa in 2008 has revealed through the findings that much remains to be done to achieve gender equality in journalism in the region. Eastern Africa is a war torn zone; however in the same region you have the booming media businesses on the continent. The main challenge for journalists and other media workers in the region is to secure their safety and improve their working conditions. In this struggle for safety, better social life and improved job careers, the concern and programmes for gender equity are usually not the priorities for the journalists’ trade unions and the employers in the collective negotiations and career promotion.

This regional report presents the results of a survey that was conducted by the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) in collaboration with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Africa Office. The gender officers were responsible for conducting the research, processing the information and writing the country reports were selected in collaboration with member unions and associations of EAJA.

Download report : EAJA Regional Gender Report.pdf