By Draga Osman and Proscovia Acan in Arua.
Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) held a two – day Step down Gender and Safety training workshop for 20 female journalists in West Nile region from February 11 – 12, 2021. Participants were drawn from Print (newspapers, magazines), Electronic media (radio and television) plus online media.
The Mayor Arua city Mr Wadri Sam Nyakua opened the workshop and commended Uganda Journalists Union and the Norwegian Union of Journalists for the timely intervention in training and empowering female journalists in West Nile region.
He called on journalists to fight for their rights and to expose all forms of discrimination against women especially workplace violence and sexual harassment.
UJU President Lucy Anyango Ekadu conveyed message of solidarity from Norwegian Union of Journalists. She said the workshop is part of a series of training undertaken by UJU in conjunction with the Norwegian Union of Journalists.
She told participants that the training aims at sensitizing them on breaking the “glass cylinder”, sensitize female journalists on their rights and empower them to be creative, assertive and self – reliant
“ We must work towards breaking the barriers, eliminate discrimination especially stereotyping in our society that relegates women to the kitchen and other household duties,” she said.
West Nile Region Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent of Police Josephine Angucia assured the journalists that she would help them apprehend perpetrators of sexual harassment and prosecute them in courts of law.
She called on female journalists to be more ethical and advised them to report cases of sexual harassment as a way of exposing men who sexually harass them. The Police Officer awarded participants certificates and closed the two – day workshop.
Participants made testimonial accusing their senior Editors, Media Owners and security agencies including Uganda police of sexually harassing them. They resolved to share information among themselves in bid to protect and promote their interests and end discrimination at workplaces.
They also resolved to diversity and specialize in journalists so as to compete favourably with their male counterparts in acquisition of available employment opportunities.
Among the issues highlighted included societal beliefs that relegate the girl child, discrimination of women by fellow women, inferiority complex by women who fear to aspire for higher positions, and superiority complex by women in higher positions who frustrate fellow women.
Participants agreed to work with relevant authorities to advance their interests. They thanked the Norwegians and UJU for conducting the training that has empowered them with awareness on how to fight for their rights. UJU Vice President Mr Draga Osman thanked Workers Members of Parliament Hon Abdulhu Byakatonda and Hon Margaret Rwabushaija for extending support to the program.
This was the third training of series of such training organized by Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) with support from the Norwegian Union of Journalists . The union plans to conduct similar training in Mbale (Eastern Uganda) and Mbarara (Western Uganda)■
