SWJO launches nine days awareness raising campaign on destigmatising the image of women journalists

Mogadishu, Somalia-Somalia Women Journalist Organisation (SWJO) launches today 9 days awareness raising campaign on destigmatising the image of women journalists, in partnership with International media support (IMS) and FOJO: Media Institute. The campaign starts with multidirectional roundtable discussion event–covering sexual harassment issues, representation of women in media as well as working conditions.

Media directors, owners and female journalists have attended the roundtable discussion event to articulate the issues women face in the industry in way that is more understandable to the public, so it can change the cultural perspectives of the society in general.

Farhia Kheyre, SWJO’s chairperson thanked the participants, in her opening remarks, for their time and patience. The determined to change the media industry chairperson, Kheyre, underlined the importance of this campaign for female media practitioners. She further explained the reality of women journalists in the industry, “We have seen perceptible changes over last few years in quite number of media houses on the issues of -maternity leaves, private spaces for women to equal payment. However, there is a lot we- as media personal need to change -from sexual harassments to the working conditions-that is why this campaign is necessary” stated Kheyre.

Abdi Khasim, a veteran journalist, mediated the event debates where media personals had an in depth discussions on the subject matter. Participants have pointed out the need for gender parity in the media and expressed their willingness to facilitate it in their media houses as well as gender policies that cater an equal and safe environment for all journalists- women and men.

IMS-FOJO- Somali media program’s manager, Manja expressed her delightfulness for such event happening in Mogadishu and the willingness to change in the industry. She praised the work SWJO has done for the Somali women in the media.

SWJO- will continue the campaign on social media platforms for the next 8 days to further the conversation in public.