GARDEZ - Effective strategies for promoting women’s increased participation in the media was the topic of a UNAMA-backed panel discussion held in Gardez, capital of the eastern province of Paktya.

Some 50 participants, including Paktya University teachers and students, provincial government officials, local media and women’s rights activists, attended the event, designed to generate strategies not only to improve the media’s portrayal women, but also to enhance their presence in key media roles.

As part of their work, participants focused on ways to promote women’s participation in the field of journalism, including in management and programming, and also focused on precursors to professional activities, including education and training as a way to counter the various challenges associated with women’s vocational opportunities in the sector.

Zarmina Shams, Head of the women's rights section of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission for Southeast Gardez, said that improving women’s representation in the media can help transform people’s perception about the role of women and can lead to positive change.

“Media is a tool,” said Ms. Shams. “Using this tool can provide a chance to explore the issues relevant to you, your family and your society more openly than any other source or channel.”

Khalid Habib, Head of the Paktya University Journalism Department, said women have a key role to play in media coverage, especially of sensitive social issues.

He said increased numbers of women working in the media would help to empower women and contribute to a greater exercise of their sociopolitical rights.

Mohammad Shifa Moshfiq, Provincial Director of Information and Culture Affairs, noted that several skills-enhancement training programmes for women already are being developed to help more women find careers in the media sector.

UNAMA is mandated to support the Afghan Government and relevant international and local non-governmental organizations to assist in the full implementation of the fundamental freedoms and human rights provisions of the Afghan Constitution and international treaties to which Afghanistan is a State party, in particular those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their human rights.