Central Kenya Journalists Trained on Gender Sensitivity and Safety

Journalists from the Central Kenya region had their skills and capacity enhanced on how to promote gender-sensitive content in media, freedom of expression, and safety.

The workshop held on March 19 was organized by the Kenya Union of Journalists and supported by Voice for Women and Girls’ Rights – Kenya, a Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) project that mobilizes media to spread human rights awareness.

The workshop aimed to raise awareness on gender issues in media, and barriers to female journalists’ access to employment opportunities and to support the media to effectively report on gender issues. 

In addition,  it focused on pay equity and sexual harassment, two areas in which the media industry through the Kenya Media Sector Working Group is making concerted efforts to address through the formulation and issuance of policy guidelines, training, and awareness-raising activities.

Participants were further educated on basic skills that can help them investigate, develop reports and news stories on gender equality and women’s issues.

Participants were informed that physical attacks and threats have increased in number, intensity, and brutality. Some of the attacks that have been documented have resulted in serious injuries and damage to equipment, particularly as election campaigns enter the home stretch. Further,  increased cases of gender-based violence against female media workers had been observed.

The Forum was facilitated by Ms. Mary Daraja, KUJ Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Kwamboka Oyaro, Gender Committee Head at KUJ, who also doubles as Leadership Coach at WAN-IFRA Women in News. Others include Mr. Eric Oduor, Secretary-General KUJ, and Mr. Sammy Muraya, JHR Program Manager.

The forum attracted 20 journalists among them 15 males and 5 females.