Firdous for changing society's mindset to overcome challenges faced by women journalists

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Thursday that International Women's Day was best occasion to recognize services of women journalists in Pakistan.

Addressing the concluding session of the National Conference on Gender and Media at a local hotel she said that there is no doubt the women journalists have been facing great challenges while performing their duties, but the same can be overcome by changing the mindset of the society.

She said that the government can do the legislation for protection of women's rights and empowering them, but the same can be implemented with the support of the society.

Pakistan Peoples Party has an unflinching commitment to the cause of giving shape to the gender equality since its inception in 1967, she added.

She said that there was great need for training of media persons including the women journalists following mushroom growth of media in the country.

The minister informed that the government has been trying to set up a media university in Pakistan and China has agreed to support the project.

She said that the government will approach all press clubs in the country for training of the media persons.

Dr Firdous said that the media should highlight the true and soft image of Paksitan and Islam as it was great need of time.

Ambassador of Sweden Lars-Hjalmar Wide also spoke on the occasion.

In the end the participants of the conference signed a code of ethics against violence against women.