International Conference of Women Journalists
Kathmandu, Nepal
Feb 27 – March 1, 2009
Background If we see the situations of women in Nepal, they are in the middle of the conflicts in various levels. Many women are facing problems of domestic violence from their own family members and other women are fighting with discrimination in the society. During ten-year-long period of Maoists’ armed conflict from 1996 to 2006, it was women who had suffered most from violence of both sides, of the state and of the rebels. Many women had lost their husbands and children and many of then became victims of torture, rape and killings. Even after the armed conflict ended and the country entered into the peace process most of them had not yet received any justice.
Although the Constituent Assembly in Nepal has 34 % women representation there are still very few representatives of women in decision making bodies, such as the cabinet and high-ranking government officials. Political parties are the good example; most of the political parties, including the largest one – the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and the oldest one – the Nepali Congress, have very few women members in their central committees. Women politicians are in the situation that they have to fight for equal participation of women even within their own parties.
Women journalists who work in various media are even in more miserable situations in Nepal as they are much less in number than men and as almost all the media are owned by men. WWJ is holding this conference of women who work for various media in South Asian countries in Kathmandu, Nepal from 27th Feb till 1st March 2009 with the participation of women journalists from India, Pakistan, Bangaladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka including Nepal.
Goal of the Conference The conference is basically aimed to present the cases of women who are being caught in conflicts through experience sharing from the women journalists who have been working in their respective areas.
- Objectives:
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- To exchange information about the situation of women and women journalists in different countries.
- To discuss about the role of women journalists for democratization process in different countries.
- To provide good opportunity for women journalists in Nepal who hardly ever have chances to communicate with media persons in other countries, even in neighboring countries.
- To have interactions with experienced women journalists who had worked in other countries in the region.
- To empower the concerned public intellectuals who work for the similar causes of human being as political leaders, NGO activists, and professionals in the filed of international cooperation, teachers, academics and other professionals.
Report: Ananta Bajracharya
Photos: Binju Sitaula
