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22 October 2023 (Last update: 23 October 2023)

Gender disparities persist in Bangladeshi media, hindering women's safety & inclusion. UNESCO Dhaka prioritizes gender equality in media.

"Media organizations need to internally make changes to their structure and practices at the very least. For a start, they can improve the way they recruit staff. If they take gender awareness into consideration it will change the balance of male and female staff. Then through media networking they will share these stories and learn from each other."

 - Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director, Digitally Right - 

A remark from Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director, Digitally Right; when he gave a speech at a consultation on gender and media organized by UNESCO Dhaka Office in collaboration with UN Women.  

Likewise, Azmeri Haque Badhan, the Cannes Film Festival-winning actor stated, 

"First of all, the regulatory structure should be rectified and everyone should be made aware of gender concerns. There should be additional seminars held to raise such awareness."

Gender inequality in organizations is a complex phenomenon that can be seen in organizational structures, processes, and practices. Likewise, a gender-enabling environment in the workplace or safeguarding support by the organizational framework of the media houses safety of women journalists and women staff is often a big question in the national media and creative industry of Bangladesh. The work environment for media professionals is not particularly hospitable to women. 

In line with UNESCO’s Global Priority Gender, striving to achieve improved gender equality in the media is a priority for UNESCO Dhaka in Bangladesh. As a part of a series of consultations with the creative sector and media in Bangladesh, UNESCO in partnership with UN Women organized a roundtable discussion on `Gender-friendly Working Environment in Media’ on, 31 August 2023 at Hotel Amari.  

During the discussion, Ms. Susan Vize, Officer in Charge, UNESCO Dhaka Office, commented when inaugurating the discussion, "As media professionals, everyone gathered today has a critical role to play in influencing both the current agenda and also future generations.”

Ms. Gitanjali Singh, Country Representative, UN Women, observed “UNESCO and UN Women are jointly supporting dialogues on the importance of a gender-friendly working environment in media and the recommendations from today will enable us to advocate with media houses to strengthen equality dimensions in policy, codes, and guidelines, with action plans and clear targets for implementation and monitoring and ensure safe working conditions.”

Here are a collection of the thoughts and suggestions from the participants:

"Economic disparity and gender inequality are closely intertwined. It is necessary to conduct thorough research to identify the right response.’’

“Additionally, the workplace environment for media professionals is not particularly welcoming for women given the circumstances as a whole. In addition to advocating for policies, all popular content generated must be reviewed via a gender lens.”

“Owner-authority and decision-makers of the media need to be included in these discussions."

"We don't truly comprehend gender, because there isn't any chance to raise awareness of it at any level of our educational system. If we include courses on gender equality, civic sense, and creativity in our curriculum, perhaps one day we will be more gender-sensitive.’’ 

“There are now very few women working in the media or creative industries. In order to highlight both the positive and negative narrative of the media environment, it is crucial that we conduct research and collect data on various media landscapes. It will assist the media in freeing themselves of click-bait profits.”

The event was also graced by Masum Reza, scriptwriter; Peya Jannatul, lawyer & model; Krishnendu Chattopadhaya, Director; Manoj Kumar Pramanik, Actor & Film Teacher; Subrina Irine, Director at Runout Films; Reaz Ahmed, Executive Editor, Dhaka Tribune; Meer Ahsan Habib, columnist and communication specialist; Israt Jahan Urmi, Journalist, DBC News; Munima Sultana, Special Correspondent, The Financial Express; Samiksha Koirala, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media, Department of Political Science and Sociology, North South University, Tabassum Islam Shusmi, Lecturer, ULAB; Abu Sayed Sumon, National Program Officer-Gender & Human Rights, UNFPA including other distinguished representatives from the media and creative industry of Bangladesh as the discussants. The discussants shared their valuable insights and experiences on the issues and highlighted the pressing need to work on gender-friendly work environments in the media. 

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/gender-friendly-working-environment-media?hub=701