By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 9 May 2015:
Libyan media professionals attended a roundtable entitled Women, Media and Peace to mark World Press . . .[restrict]Freedom Day.
The event, held in Tunis 5-6 May, also included diplomats, civil society representatives and Libyan and international experts. Organised by UNESCO, in partnership with UNSMIL’s Women’s Empowerment Section, the event centered on the role of journalists in conflict zones, with a special focus on empowering female journalists.
Guest speaker David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, emphasised the role of journalists in informing the public of their human rights and reporting on violations of those rights.
Kaye also spoke of the “trap” of journalists choosing a side in the conflict. This, he asserted, “puts them at greater risk and then the truth of their reporting is lost”. Journalists must, urged Kaye, stay impartial and accurate in their reporting.
In addition to the keynote address, attendees participated in panel discussions, where they noted the underrepresentation of women in Libyan media and discussed what they consider is a “trend of growing discrimination against women in the country”. The participants also attended a session on gender sensitive reporting.
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