K ARACHI: Social norms, not religion, are the real barriers in women empowerment and it is the responsibility of the media to change people`s mindset on this through sensitised and effective reporting of the problems being faced by women in Pakistan so that a fair and secure environment could be created for them.

These views were expressed by the speakers at the launch of the Second National Media Fellowship at the Centre of Excellence in Journalism, the Institute of Business Management (CEJ-IBA) in collaboration with the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which aims at training newsmen and providing them a platform for sensitised reporting on gender-based violence and child marriages.

The fellowship also focuses on training media persons in exploring the complexities, root causes and potential solutions tothe problems being faced by women and transforming peoples` perceptions about such issues.

Caretaker Federal Minister for Human Rights Khalil George attended the ceremony as chief guest. The keynote speakers on the occasion were NCSW chairperson Nilofar Bakhtiar, UNFPA Country Representative Dr Luay Shabaneh and Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW) chairperson Nuzhat Shirin.

Mr George congratulated the NCSW, UNFPA and CEJ-IBA for making efforts to curb violence against women and create awareness on the issue of child marriages.

Ms Bakhtiar said it was the first initiative by the government to sensitise the media on gender-related issues and inequality for women in Pakistan. She said journalists were the watchdogs of society and had a very important role in highlighting such issues in a powerful manner as there was a high number of cases related to physical torture and domesticviolence committed against women.

She said child marriage was a deeprooted problem in the country, which took away a child`s right to a safe and healthy childhood, quality education and fair economic opportunities.

UNFPA representative Dr Shabaneh said: `Journalists have a noble mission ahead of them as their portrayal of the such crucial issues would shape the country`s future.` He said Pakistan was lagging behind other countries in terms of women empowerment, gender equality and safety, and provision of justice to women.

`It is the social norms, not religion, that is the real barrier in women empowerment and to address this problem, it is necessary to change people`s mindset, Dr Shabaneh said, adding that the international media reflected what was shown on the national media which ultimately shaped the country`s global image.

Therefore, he said, responsible and effective reporting on gender-based violence, child marriages and other suchissues being faced by women was very important.

SCSW chairperson Ms Shirin said it was not that the media lacked sensitivity and responsibility, but rather it was an effort to make it focus more on those issues. She said that a few years ago many investigative reports were made on issues that women faced but there had been a decline in those in recent years.

She said investigative reporting was important particularly on government institutions that were established to protect and facilitate women in the country, like shelter homes, basic health units and complaints cells etc. She added that in many remote areas, most of those facilities either did not exist or were not completed after inaugurations.

The speakers said journalists were an important pillar in the present-day society and particularly in a democratic government, and by training them for effective and responsible reporting, a secure and safer environment could be created for women.