adminThe campaign is being conducted by ZUJ in partnership with the Federation of African Media Women Zimbabwe (FAMWZ).
ZUJ’s sister union, Norse Journalist lag or the Norwegian Union of Journalists (NUJ) is supporting the campaign.
In a statement, ZUJ secretary-general Foster Dongozi said the campaign was necessitated by an increased number of complaints, especially from female journalists who are reported to be victims of sexual harassment at the work place and from news sources.
Dongozi said ZUJ had also received reports of sexual harassment from student journalists on attachment.
z“Fighting against sexual harassment in the media should be everyone’s responsibility. Our campaign is unique in that it does not point fingers at alleged perpetrators, but instead seeks an inclusive effort to curb the rot,” said Dongozi.
He said after the campaign launch, ZUJ would convene a series of nationwide group discussions where findings would be compiled leading to the drafting of a position paper as well as campaign and advocacy material.
“The launch is only going to instigate the discussions on tracing the causes of sexual harassment in the media, searching for solutions, exploring legal and policy frameworks to reduce the cases and mapping the way forward,” said Dongozi.
He said sexual harassment was one of the evils among many that continued to stifle the growth of journalism including poor working conditions, low salaries and repressive laws.
“The Union will not tire in its struggle to free the airwaves, oppose unwarranted arrests of journalists and repeal of repressive media laws,” said Dongozi.
“We will continue to fight in order to ensure professional and ethical journalism and better working conditions for journalists.”
Representatives from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Police Victim Friendly Unit, Padare and senior journalists attended the launch.
Meanwhile, the Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zimbabwe will hold its World Press Freedom Day commemorations today at a Bulawayo hotel where it would launch the MISA-Zimbabwe’s inaugural Press Freedom Award.
In a statement, MISA-Zimbabwe senior programmes officer, Nyasha Nyakunu, said the award was going to be presented to an individual or an organisation that would have excelled in defending Press freedom and freedom of expression.
“The award is going to be presented to an individual or an organisation that has excelled in defending Press freedom and freedom of expression as envisaged under the 1991 Windhoek Declaration and the Banjul Declaration on the Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa,” said Nyakunu.
The United Nations General Assembly declared 3 May World Press Freedom Day. Gender Links joined the world commemorations by launching the latest edition of its bi-annual Gender, Media and Diversity Journal.
In a statement, Gender Links said the edition which is entitled: “Gender, popular and freedom of expression, explores the nexus between gender, diversity and freedom of expression”.
The journal also features debates on access to information, how freedom of expression is understood in today’s society and the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) to promote freedom of expression.
Online Reporter