UNESCO sends local radio exhibition on rural women to top gender conference

The “On air with rural women” exhibition has been chosen to take part in the sixty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York as part of its international tour. Combining both audio and visual elements, the exhibition takes you on a journey to show how local radio is giving rural women a voice and helping to address a number of gender issues in the community.

As the primary intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, the CSW convenes annually to promote women’s rights and set new standards. This year’s theme focuses on social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure.

“Rural women are one of the most marginalized groups in the world,” said Mirta Lourenço, Chief of Media Development at UNESCO. “Local radio can give them the microphone to tackle their own issues, and this exhibition shows how they have done it.”

All content featured in the exhibition was gathered through UNESCO’s “Empowering Local Radio with ICTs” project, supported by Sweden. Building the capacity of local radio staff from 59 stations and 10 African countries, this initiative helped provide rural women with an opportunity to participate in public debate and express themselves. It contributed to improving the quality and significance of their coverage, including specific gender components, as well as encouraging them to include women as radio correspondents, reporters, interviewees and sources.

From 11 to 22 March 2019, “On air with rural women” will be on display at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to help encourage discussion around media coverage and other pressing gender issues.