Assisted by UNESCO, three womens journalism organisations in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently hosted a workshop on reinforcing professional capacities and the treatment of information during election periods.
The workshop, held in Kinshasa from 18 to 21 October 2005, brought together 50 media professionals from Kinshasa as well as 10 other provinces. Participants engaged in simulated electoral debates, discussions regarding the presss approach to gender, and activities designed to increase media outreach to the Congolese female electorate.
In addition to its aims to create audiovisual programmes and print media articles that should reinforce the participation of women in the electoral process - as both voters and candidates - the workshop adopted a number of recommendations.
For the Commission Electorale Indépendante (Independent Electoral Commission), participants suggested greater collaboration with the press in order to better inform the Congolese population about the election process, as well as increasing support for female journalists. For the Observatoire des Medias Congolais (OMEC), participants in the workshop suggested additions on gender issues to its Guide for Journalists During Election Periods. Finally, workshop participants encouraged the women of DRC to have the determination to realize their political goals.
Source:UNESCO
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