Fw: [Ict4ruralwomeninafrica] Goal 3 and related questions

[Women Information Network]

>
> *How are radio and television broadcasting being used to advance
> women's human rights?
This is done through radio and television programmes some of which are
entertainment drama, interviews with women activists, radio discussions and
talkshows. Aspects of women's rights issues are discussed on the programmes.
These are mainly sponsored programmes by NGOs.Women's human rights issues
are also brought to the attention of the people through feature articles and
news stories in newspapers and magazines.As a consultant to Alliances For
Africa, I designed and produced radio discussion programmes broadcast to
sensitize women on their rights especially to vie for political positions
and participate actively in the political process.Between 1999 and 2001, our
professional association, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists Enugu
State Chapter, with funding from Johns Hopkins University, Center For
Communication Programs under its Democracy and Governance Project carried
out a campaign to support women politicians to access the media and use it
to their advantage for political campaigns.We also produced and broadcast
radio programmes to discuss women issues including their rights, violence
againt woemn, inheritance rights et all.
>
> *How can we use radio for women's empowerment?
>Give women relevant information that will enable them to take decisions
about their lives.
> *What are the strategies and opportunities for linking rural women with
> radio? Since we do not have community radios here yet, we can start by
setting one up. Then we can produce programmes focusing on specific needs of
women,  provide them with radio sets and batteries and assist listerners
groups to listen to the programmes.Informastion is power. Let me share an
experience.I am a journalist and woman activist.As I sat in my office one
day, our security personnel brought a lady to me. On discussion with her she
told me that she came to ssek assistance over a marital problem with her
husband (she has no child so her husband abandoned her and married another
women) The amazing thing is that she travelled quite a distance from a rural
community. On enquiry she told me that when she reported her predicament to
a lady in the community, the lady advised her to travel to Radio Nigeria
that it is said on radio that women who have such problems should come for
assistance. That is what information can do!
>
> *What are the difficulties experienced in linking women with public,
> private and community broadcasters? And does this make a sustainable
> impact on their programming?
>After several years of advocacy by our association Nigeria Association of
Women Journalists Enugu State chapter to give women a voice in the media,
more and more women are now bold enough to grant interviews and participate
in media programmes.It depends on wht issues you are seeking a womans
opinion, if she feels it is too controverisal, she may not comment, if not
she will give her views and will not be afraid of being quoted.

Miriam Menkiti
Women Information Network ( WINET)
P. O. Box 763,
Enugu ,400001, Enugu State ,Nigeria