‘Thousands of footsteps in a day’

GUIDED by Section J (Women and the Media) of the Beijing Platform for Action along with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, femLINKpacific’s team of community media workers are using radio to amplify the voices and recommendations of rural women leaders.

As part of our COVID-19 first response and preparedness, we know that the media has proved to be a powerful vehicle for bringing women’s rights issues to the attention of a wider public, galvanising action on the streets of cities around the world and encouraging policymakers to step up commitments to gender equality.

The explosion of social media and unprecedented use by women of new technologies represents important opportunities to bring gender equality and women’s rights issues to the forefront of both policymaking and media attention particularly of diverse women in their COVID-19 response and preparedness, safety and security.

Globally, many women, especially in developing countries and particularly for those in the Pacific region, still do not have access to this technology because of infrastructure, costs and discriminatory social norms. This is where transformational media work can help amplify women, peace and security priorities especially gender-based violence prevention work through advocacy and awareness.

It’s evident that access to reliable and efficient media resources can create healthier and safer communities, reduce vulnerabilities and help build the resilience communities need to navigate this pandemic and emerge better prepared in the future.

Meaningful participation is at the core of the work of the Rural Women Leaders Community Media Network (RWLCMN) with the consensus that women of all diversity must be involved when it comes to decision-making that affects the community.

As rural women leader Rosemary McIndoe shares: “The women in my community are up at 4.30am collecting nama (sea grapes). When they get back, they continue with the next chore of collecting firewood and tending to all that needs to be done in the home. These women are taking thousands of footsteps in a day. By the time they are done, the kids are back from school and they have to get started with cooking dinner. Some while doing all this face violence in the home, with violence too on children happening in the community and men selling drugs.”

Ms McIndoe shared the reality in her community as femLINKpacific held convenings in Rakiraki to commemorate International Rural Women’s Day and

Picture SUPPLIED the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.