Call for Applications: Media Personnel for Practical Gender Responsive News Reporting Workshop at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review

Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review

Background

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will convene the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review in Bangkok, in collaboration with the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, from 19-21 November 2024. Across Asia and the Pacific, accelerated action is needed to meet the ambitions of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, including SDG on gender equality and all other SDGs. Despite significant strides in women’s education and health, and some progress made in women’s political representation in the past three decades, progress toward gender equality and women empowerment appears stagnating and even regress in some areas such as labor force participation. Women and girls in the region continue to face discriminatory social norms and gender stereotypes, high levels of gender-based violence, disproportionate unpaid care, and domestic work burden, among other challenges. For instance, the brunt of the socioeconomic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the triple-planetary crisis (climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss), food security and crises, growing digital divides, and increasing geopolitical tensions are being borne by women, with already marginalized and vulnerable groups being the hardest hit.

The regional review aims to assess current and emerging challenges that affect the implementation of the BFfA and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthen the knowledge base on progress and gaps in realizing the rights of women and girls in the region.

To support this initiative, the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office(MCO) is selecting two media personnel to attend the Practical Gender Responsive News Reporting Workshop segment of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review, taking place in Bangkok from 18-21 November 2024. The aim is to highlight critical gender equality issues and stimulate discussion in traditional and non-traditional media in the Pacific region. Engaging media will help raise awareness and mobilize support for gender equality, encouraging stakeholders to take accelerated action toward the goals set forth by the Beijing Declaration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and beyond.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Media Coverage and Storytelling: Selected media professionals will attend open-door meetings, side events, and discussions with official delegates, civil society organizations, and youth participants. They will produce news stories through national media outlets during the visits.
• Reporting and Visual Documentation: The participant will report back to the UN Women Fiji MCO on the conference´s key developments, delivering high-quality photographs and editorial content. They will also receive editorial support from the UN Women Regional Office.
• Networking and Coordination: Remain in close contact with other Pacific Delegates, including UN Women Delegates, to exchange updates and key insights during the conference.  
• Post-Conference Reporting: Upon returning from the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review, the selected participants will write articles/reports that contextualize the conference discussions within the Pacific’s gender equality landscape.

Selection criteria:

• Must be a Pacific journalist from UN Women Fiji MCO countries: Fiji, Solomon Islands, The Republic of Marshall Islands, Palau, Kiribati, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tonga, Vanuatu, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Tokelau, Niue, Cook Islands (preference will be given to those belonging to marginalized communities such as Indigenous people, Dalits, Persons with Disability, or Persons from the LGBTIQ+ Community)
• Must have at least three years of experience in the field of Journalism with a track record of articles published in the field of Gender Equality or other social justice fields.

Application requirements:

• An up-to-date curriculum vitae with a description of relevant experience and knowledge including at least five published Gender Equality-related articles.
• A letter of motivation with a description of relevant experience and knowledge as well as the motivation to participate in Beijing+30.

Deadline for applications: 16 September 2024

Applicants are asked to submit their application through the Form. Only shortlisted candidates will be informed of further interviews and processes. UN Women Fiji MCO will provide two-way tickets and a 100 per cent daily subsistence allowance for Bangkok, Thailand for selected candidates.