The First General Assembly of the Global Alliance on Media and Gender

When :

from Wednesday 9 December, 2015
08:30
to Friday 11 December, 2015
17:55

Type of event :

Category 3- Non-governmental conference

Contact :

Alton Grizzle (a.grizzle@unesco.org); Eunkyung Shin (e.shin@unesco.org)

The Global Alliance on Media and Gender will host its first general assembly (GA) on the 9-10 December 2015. Taking place, two years after GAMAG’s formation, the GA will bring together representatives from over 800 member organisations and individuals. Coordinated by UNESCO and GAMAG, the conference takes place at a time when global partners are finalizing the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will guide the development agenda for the next 15 years. The GA also follows GAMAG’s strategic participation at the 59th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March 2015.
Objectives:

• Carry forward the resolutions of the International Development Cooperation Meeting on Gender and Media
• Reflect on efforts to operationalize GAMAG over the last two years
• Review and adopt the GAMAG Terms of Reference (TOR)

Background:

The upcoming general assembly takes place two years after the UNESCO-led Bangkok Global Forum on Media and Gender (GFMG) which culminated in the formation of an over 800-member Global Alliance on Media and Gender. The GFMG was a strategic response to the need for a more systematic and coordinated follow up to the strategic objectives of section J of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPFA).

The BPFA, adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly back in 1995, remains a valid and relevant instrument in the quest for gender equality. Despite the huge importance placed on Section J, its strategic objectives remain unachieved.

One of GAMAG’s overall objectives is to campaign for the achievement of the targets of section J. 2015 is a significant year as it brings the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to an end and ushers in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs. As the United Nations (UN) and partners finalise the SDGs, GAMAG has expressed concern over the absence of stand-alone goals with specific targets and indicators on gender, media and ICTs. GAMAG has previously engaged relevant UN agencies over this exclusion.

As GAMAG works to make its voice count on the global stage, funding constraints for gender and media work have hampered progress. Member organisations have often tapped into existing funds through exploring areas of synergy. The International Development Cooperation Meeting, that will precede the GA will provide much useful indicators on the future direction of supporting, enabling and financing gender equality in and through the media.

Key areas of focus during the GAMAG General Assembly:

• Development cooperation around gender and media work
• Global mapping of GAMAG member activities
• Strengthening regional and thematic clusters
• 2016-2017 GAMAG plan of action.