Professor Liu Liqun from China Women's University in Beijing delivered a keynote speech on promoting gender equality in regards to the Gender-Sensitive Indicators for Media (GSIM) guidelines on March 17.
The event, a meeting of the United Nations Theme Group on Gender (UNTGG), was organized and co-chaired by the Julie Broussard, the Country Program Manager for the UN Women China Office. It was officially opened with Liu's speech and attended by many female experts, researchers on women's issues and officials from social organizations and international branches.
At the event, Liu introduced some basic information about the GSIM, which is a UNESCO-backed initiative to be used to assess the gender neutrality of any country's media. Some figures about the index and experiences applying the GSIM into practice among female reporters were discussed.
Furthermore, Liu also gave some practices and applications on the GSIM whilst referring to academic discussion on the media and gender equality, the monitoring of gender-themed issues and the monitoring of TV news programs.
Additionally, Liu pointed out that the national conditions of each country and the application of social media should necessarily be taken into consideration whilst introducing the application of GSIM and further monitoring its implementation.
Meanwhile, Liu anticipated that more factors needed to be anticipated whilst promoting the GSIM in China. For example, the present social policies, the existing system and the characters of new media, and social awareness all should be taken into account to enhance the effectiveness of promoting gender equality.
After the speech, Liu expressed her hope for the commencement of such an international exchange with participants from the branches of the UN.
