UN Women Executive Director Calls for Gender Equality in the Media

During her first official visit to Tanzania in August, UN Women Executive Director, Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka met with high-level government officials, women leaders, entrepreneurs, police officers, parliamentarians and media personnel working to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women in Tanzania. The aim of her visit was to open the first-ever Gender and News Summit in Tanzania and encourage local media houses to be more gender-responsive in their portrayal of women in media.

The Executive Director also met with women traders at Mchikichini market in Ilala district who have benefitted from a programme run by UN Trust Fund via UN Women and has supported the reduction of gender-based discrimination in local markets in Dar es Salaam. The programme reached over 5,600 women traders, and future plans include upscaling the programme to Dodoma and Singida regions.

“I am very moved to see you fighting for your own freedom, for your own empowerment, to manage your own money, to stop violence and to stand for office and become Councillors and Chairpersons in the markets,” said Executive Director Mlambo-Ngcuka, adding: “This is the way it’s supposed to be. When women work together, they can solve together their shared problems. I am also touched to hear how each of you today expressed concern about the other, and you want this initiative to go beyond because you don’t want this just for yourself, you want it for your sisters”.

At the Gender and News Summit in Dar es Salaam, organized by UN Women, the Executive Director urged media practitioners to challenge gender stereotypes by telling the untold stories of women and girls who are contributing towards the development of their communities and the country. The Gender and News Summit, which was launched by the Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, convened media and gender experts across the country to share gender-sensitive media practices in the coverage of the Sustainable Development Goals and propose ways in which the media can champion gender equality and the empowerment of women.

At her meeting with the Tanzania Police Female Network, Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka discussed issues related to Gender and Children’s Desks. There are 417 desks that have been established throughout the country with support from UN Women and other UN Agencies. She also met with the Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly and the House of Representatives of Zanzibar, along with members of the Women’s Caucuses of the Union Bunge to discuss UN Women’s support to women leaders and parliamentarians.