The statistical data provided by the authorities should be divided into media materials by gender so that the public better understands them and these provide greater clarity as to the gender situation in the country. The correct use of these data and the need to disseminate them through the media were discussed by experts and journalists in the roundtable meting “Gender statistics in the media” that was staged by the Independent Journalism Center and UNDP Moldova, IPN reports.
Lucretia Ciurea, monitoring and evaluation officer of UN Women, said the role of the mass media in eliminating stereotypes about men and women is very great. In this connection, the journalists, using the statistics, should relate positive examples when women manage to assert oneself and to show that the economic empowerment of women contributes to the development of a state. The women often do not manage because of fear. Therefore, the state should work out policies that would help the women develop multilaterally. For example, the development partners of Moldova promote different initiatives, one of which presents the men who support the women who want to grow.
Aurelia Spataru, manager of the Join UN Project “Strengthening of the National Statistical System”, recommended the journalists not to limit themselves to one indicator when they relate statistical data and to connect it to other indicators. For example, if they write about the number of institutionalized children, they should also provide gender information, how many girls and boys are institutionalized. If they write about migrants, they should also furnish gender data.
Jessica Gardner, gender statistics expert of the UNECE/United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, said the journalists in their articles should address the problems from the angle of gender too. For example, an article about unemployment should specify who are more exposed to this phenomenon – the women or the men. When the authorities announce the creation of new jobs, they should determine in what areas of activity there are more jobs and who are favored in them.
