Media meet in Kathmandu

Sixty media professionals from six countries in South Asia came together for a two-day workshop from February 8 - 9 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The workshop was organized by Save the Children Sweden and UNIFEM, to further children's and women's human rights in South Asia.

The workshop facilitated an exchange between the journalists and development professionals working with issues related to children and women, in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. At the workshop, professionals from the media and development sector focused on developing strategies to strengthen co-operation between the media and NGOs, to further children's and women's rights in the region.

The journalists devised their own working code of conduct and guidelines to further children's and women's rights through the media. The meeting concluded with an agreement to create a regional media network to strengthen children's and women's rights in South Asia. As a first step, an e-group will be launched, where media and development professionals can exchange ideas and information towards furthering these rights through the media.

With the skilled facilitation by Ms. Arjum Wajid, freelance trainer/researcher from MediaWise Trust, UK, and the hard work and coordination of Neha Bhandari and her team from the Save the Children Sweden, Regional Office for South and Central Asia, the workshop progressed smoothly with positive results.

Save the Children Sweden, Regional Office for South and Central Asia, together with UNIFEM are committed to coordinating and strengthening the regional media network.

UNIFEM is also supporting and encouraging the growth of national media coalitions in various South Asian countries.