By Rachael Nakitare
The 69th CSW held in New York from 10th to 21st March 2025, is the principal global intergovernmental body dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. This year’s session was particularly significant as it took stoke of the milestones achieved and the challenges in the 30-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Platform for Action. Ms. Sima Bahous, Head of UN Women, cautioned that “misogyny is on the rise” at a time when females are bearing the brunt of multiple crises and conflict around the world. While there has been progress in advancing women’s rights, it is not fast nor far-reaching enough.” She said while emphasizing the need to include women in key decision making and peacebuilding roles.
The International Association of Women in Radio and Television took particular attention to the section J of the Beijing Platform for Action; Section J1- increase the participation and access of women to expression and decision making in and through the media and new technologies of communication and Section J2- Promote a balanced and non-stereotypical portrayal of women in the media. Section J is critical for all the other areas of concern” (BPFA) because it provides the mirror for society to evaluate performance, “said Ms Sheila Katzaman, the President of IAWRT USA Chapter. IAWRT hosted a side event that evaluated the “Section J of BPFA; Gains and Reversals.”
Social media platforms have opened up unprecedented space for women’s voices to be heard. Ms. Racheal Nakitare shared highlights from the report on the extend to which women in the media in Kenya have embraced technology”. file:///C:/Users/Admin/Downloads/Final-Report-For-Women-Journalists%20(2).pdf The study, which was collaborative effort between IAWRT Kenya and Association of Progressive Communications (APC), uses a gender lens in analysing how digital tools and platforms have empowered women journalists to profile themselves, boost their visibility overcome cultural barriers and stereotypes while navigating the predominantly male media landscape. In shedding light on the intersection of gender and technology, the findings contribute to the ongoing conversation about the representation of women across media platforms and how these perceptions affect / impact development
It was however noted that the liberation of the online spaces has come with challenges which include increased technology facilitated violence against women, disinformation/ misinformation and fake news. “Women journalists are under attack in the on-line spaces throughout the world, impacting negatively on participatory rights of women and therefore ending up with news that lacks women’s perspectives. Geopolitical events require women voices’ said Professor Olga Jurasz, Professor of Law at Open University in the United Kingdom and Director, Centre for protecting Women online.
Technology and especially social media platforms have become powerful avenues of advocacy and mobilization especially by citizen journalists. The Genz demonstrations witnessed in Kenya in June 2024 were basically coordinated virtually using the social media.” Said Ms. Nakitare urged Journalists to embrace technology and use it to enhance their professional work, thus amplify the voices of women across the world.
Birgitte Jallov, Director, Empower House based in Denmark attended the women’s conference held in Beijing meeting 30 years ago and shared her experience of the role of media as envisaged in the women’s conferences held in Mexico City in 1975, Copenhagen in 1980, and Nairobi in 1985 where media was to catapulting all the other sectors of development. It was not until 1995 in Beijing that media was recognized as an entity in itself and so called for attention to women’s representation in and through the media “she said. Birgette has spent years setting up community radios across the world especially the global south and appreciates the importance and relevance of the radio as main source of information for the rural folk especially women and children. She stressed the need to have women own the radios especially with the new technologies that allow smaller portable radios including online podcasts. The power of radio to rural communities cannot be overemphasized.” She noted.
The meeting also noted the complete lack of progression on section J 2 where women are still portrayed in their stereotypical roles. Hawa Taylor, Global advocate for Youth empowerment and, former employee of the United Nations Communications department observed that much as the Global Communication department of the United Nations is headed by a woman, women are generally lacking in decision making positions. “We must take responsibility and ensure women in the media especially those who appear on Television and other visual platforms are seen and appreciated for the value they bring to the table rather than their physical appearance” she lamented.
Despite the fact that a record 5845 members of civil society attended the CSW69, many more were locked out due to the complexities of the visa application and issuance processes. Radi Ali, Youth officer from Syria decried the “discrimination against LGBTQ and the gruelling immigration processes.” Its location at the United Nations Headquarters presented significant barriers to participants who had registered to attend the conference.
APC created a feedback board dubbed “Access Denied” which attracted various reactions from the public. Some of the suggestions that came through the feedback board included relocating the CSW venue to United Nations offices in countries with easier access by all participating parties. While adding their voices to suggestions for revitalization of the CSW, some youths proposed discussions shifting onto the digital space.
The Secretary General’s priority sessions for the next four years will include transferring caregiving systems, advancing gender equality, accelerating the implementation of agenda 2030 and strengthening women access to justice. This calls for deliberate and direct participation of women within the civil society, the engine that drives CSW forward.
© 2025 IWART Kenya
