BAMYAN - Women working in Bamyan's media sector have come together to launch a professional association. The organization, which has 22 founding members, calls itself the Bamyan Women Journalists Association (BWJA). They are employees of local media including Radio Bamyan, RTA and Radio Paywand, and for Pajwok News Agency and the BBC.

The creation of the association was timed to coincide with celebrations centering around International Women’s Day (IWD) in Bamyan.

UNAMA's office in the Central Highlands Region played a role in the group's creation. Heran Song, the head of office, urged the group to unite so that female media workers could promote the voices of women and protect their rights. Representatives from the group said there association fills a gap and will allow them to improve their craft.

At their founding meeting, held at the UNAMA office in Bamyan, members elected a chair, vice chair and secretary. They also agreed on their terms of reference, to promote independent media, gender-sensitive reporting and capacity building of women workers in media.

“There is a need in Bamyan for women in media to get together as a group to work towards becoming good journalists,” said Fatima Rezay, an employee of RTA and the group's first elected chair.

Some members expressed the hope that they could create a woman-owned and woman-managed radio station.

By UNAMA/Central Highlands Region