By Diana Ajok and Felista Auma in Gulu.
Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) in conjunction with the Oslo – based Norwegian Union of journalists (NUJ) with support from Workers Members of Parliament Hon Charles Bakabulindi, Hon Margaret Rwabushaija Namubiru and Hon Abdulhu Byakatonda, held a two day workshop at Gulu’s Global Friendship hotel.
The Step down Gender Equity and Safety of Female journalists; workshop was held December 12 – 13, 2021 . participants were drawn from Print (newspapers, magazines), Electronic media (radio and television) plus online media.
Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) President Lucy Anyango Ekadu conveyed solidarity message from Norwegian Union of Journalists and added that the workshop is part of a series of similar training programs conducted by UJU in conjunction with the Norwegian Union of Journalists.
She said:” These workshops organized for International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) affiliates have and continue to be conducted on the African continent.”
She called on journalists to fight for their rights and to expose all forms of discrimination against women especially workplace violence and sexual harassment in the field.
Ms Lucy emphasized that the training aims at sensitizing female journalists on breaking the silence on gender and safety issues that they face.
:” We equip you with skills required to break the “glass cylinder: You must Know your rights and empower yourselves to be more assertive and self – reliant ,” she said.
The UJU President said journalists must work towards breaking the barriers, eliminate stereotyping in our society that relegates women to the kitchen and other household duties,” she said.
Participants were frank and bold as they made testimonials accusing their senior Editors, Media Owners, security agencies, politicians, businessmen and other sources, of sexually harassing them. They resolved to expose the culprits with documentary evidence and condemned women managers who are frustrating fellow women in the media industry.
Journalists resolved to share information and to always report cases with authorities with view to apprehending and prosecuting the culprits.
They said the economic constraints faced in the country had forced some female journalists to fall easy “prey” to men folk who lure them into sex in exchange for employment and other opportunities. Participants resolved to fight for their safety and equity at their work places and to always be more transparent in discussing challenges faced at work.
Participants expressed appreciation to the Norwegian Union of Journalists and Uganda Journalists Union for conducting the training that is pertinent with their profession..
Gulu is part and parcel of the Northern Uganda region that suffered adverse effects from Joseph Kony’s Lords’ Resistance Army (LRA) rebel insurgency that left thousands dead, injured and others displaced.
Uganda Journalists Union plans to conduct similar training workshops in Masaka, Mubende, Mbarara, Jinja, Bugiri, Soroti, Fort portal and Masindi■
