Content Development is Key: Dialogue with UN Women

October 26, 2011
New York

“We get your newsletter” said Nanette Braun as she welcomed FemLINKPACIFIC representatives to an interactive dialogue with the media and communications team based at UN Women HQ in midtown Manhattan today.

She was referring to FemLINKPacific's EMegazine “The Thirteen 25 Report” which has been one of our media platforms to communicate to media, policy and CSO partners about the implementation of UNSCR1325, and other gender equality commitments.

We were there as members of the GPPAC Gender Focal Points network coming together in the lead up to the annual Open Debate on UNSCR1325.

Peace and Security is now one of the core programme areas of UN Women, and Braun reiterated what is possible with enhanced relationships between at the grassroots, national and regional offices of UN Women, as well as media networks.

There has been a sea change, since 2002, when it comes to the portrayal of women in the peace and sphere. It is reflected in the media coverage and enhanced visibility of sexual gender based violence:
“There has been a shift, a policy shift including at the inter-governmental level, so it is not impossible, “she said highlighting the catalytic role of the first edition of Women, War, Peace co authored by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Elisabeth Rehn.

Braun also agreed that there is a still a need to transform the portrayal of women, more than just as victims:
“The media is an opportunity to enhance the visibility of what we are doing as Peacewomen activists”, said Veena Singh Bryar of FemLINKPACIFIC, “(in our work) We would like to reach the media as well as governments.”

“We want to enhance women’s visibility of women’s efforts in preventive action in dialogue and mediation stressed Gesa Bent the Gender Coordinator of GPPAC in The Hague “(as) we look at highlighting the work to prevent.”

The dialogue was an opportunity to highlight the work of the global network from the 15 regions “The core of our work is Preventive Action,” explained Carmen Gatmaytan of IID based in Mindanao, who highlighted that media, and communications are integrated into the work at the national and regional efforts, such as through the GPPAC Peace Portal.

It was agreed that content development, is a valuable way to communicate civil society action, particularly for Women, Peace and Security and enhance women’s visibilities:

“We want to create a media platform for what is happening in the field, not just the work of UN Women,” said Oisika Chakrabati the Media Specialist based at UN Women Headquarters, “ (so) it is exciting to hear what you are all doing on the ground, we want to learn about your work, whether it is suitcase radio, and how you are working with journalists on the ground, and their situation,” adding that she acknowledged that in many global south communities, the daily reality of the digital divide means social media as well as other online media forms is not accessible.

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Sharon Bhagwan Rolls
Executive Director
femLINKPACIFIC

ENDS

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