Nairobi: In a powerful demonstration of commitment, leading media organisations from East and Southern Africa have signed a landmark declaration pledging their intensified support for advancing gender equality across the region. In the signed declaration, media representatives affirmed their understanding that media shapes public discourse, influences policy agendas, and holds power to account.
According to Kenya News Agency, the media organisations gathered at the Generation Equality Media and Commitment Makers Forum in Nairobi pledged to ensure the efforts of gender equality players are visible, impactful, and sustained to promote positive social norms, challenge harmful perceptions, and break stereotypes. The forum, a collaborative effort between UN Women Africa, the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG), and Nalafem, brought together a diverse group of media professionals and Generation Equality commitment makers.
Participants, including governments, civil society organisations, youth activists, and private sector representatives from over 14 East and Southern African countries, converged to strategise impactful ways for the media to foster positive social norms, dismantle harmful stereotypes, and champion gender equality. Speaking during the forum in Nairobi, Director of Media Training and Development at the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Victor Bwire urged stakeholders to consistently produce quality, timely content that naturally showcases women's significant contributions across various sectors.
Regional Director, UN Women East and Southern Africa Anna Mutavati underscored the indispensable role of media. She noted that across Africa, growing challenges, from the climate emergency and conflict to shrinking civic space, continue to disproportionately affect women and girls. 'We recognise the critical role of the media in shaping narratives and holding institutions accountable for gender equality and women's empowerment across East and Southern Africa and beyond,' she said.
Executive Director of AMWIK Queenter Mbori emphasized the media's role in shaping narratives, challenging biases, and amplifying the voices of change-makers. 'Our aim is to move beyond intermittent coverage to sustained, impactful storytelling,' Mbori said, adding that this year offers a critical opportunity to evaluate progress, address ongoing challenges, and renew actionable commitments.
This forum and the signed declarations arrive at a pivotal moment. The year 2025 marks a landmark year for gender equality, commemorating significant milestones: the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, and 15 years since the establishment of UN Women. Representatives from the signatory media organisations committed to a series of concrete actions: advancing gender-sensitive reporting, developing dedicated gender equality editorial policies, and amplifying the crucial work and voices of Generation Equality Commitment Makers.