Several international and regional conventions and declarations provide a rights-based framework for gender and media advocacy, as well as a basis for the role the media should and can play in promoting women’s human rights and gender equality.

National legislation, policies and guidelines by public regulatory bodies and codes by the media industry itself provide a further basis for advocacy for gender-just media. Knowledge and awareness of policy frameworks is crucial for gender and media activists to properly focus and shape their advocacy initiatives.

Case study of a regional policy framework

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa was adopted at the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in July 2003 by 53 countries. Signatories to the protocol committed themselves to promoting gender equality and protecting the rights of women.

The following sections of the Protocol calls on states to ensure that gender equality is emphasised and upheld in communication:

Article 2: Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

'States Parties shall commit themselves to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of women and men through public education, information, education and communication strategies, with a view to achieving the elimination of harmful cultural and traditional practices and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes, or on stereotyped roles for women and men'.

Further more, on the rights of women to education and training (Article 12), the Protocol calls on states to take all appropriate measures to:

Eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and guarantee equal opportunity and access in the sphere of education and training;

Eliminate all stereotypes in textbooks, syllabuses and the media, that perpetuate such discrimination;

Lastly, Article 26 which focuses on implementation and monitoring requires:

States Parties to ensure the implementation of this Protocol at national level, and in their periodic reports submitted in accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter, indicate the legislative and other measures undertaken for the full realisation of the rights herein recognised.

States Parties to adopt all necessary measures and in particular provide budgetary and other resources for the full and effective implementation of the rights herein recognised.

The Protocol's emphasis on protecting women's rights and promoting gender equality through information, education and communication strategies as well as the importance it gives to the elimination of stereotypes in the media, provide a continent-wide framework for media and gender advocates in Africa to draw on in various advocacy campaigns.

Advocacy may entail:

Lobbying respective national governments to ratify the Protocol.

Monitoring the implementation of the Protocol by governments, regulatory bodies and the media (for instance through the development of media policy guidelines which recognise and value gender equality and emphasis the elimination of stereotypes of women in the media).

The Protocol has been ratified by 53 African countries.

Complete English text of the Protocol

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites