By MONICA MAYUNI KAYOMBO, Zambia, Lusaka
GENDER equality and the safety of women journalists took centre stage at the 2026 World Press Freedom Day commemorations in Lusaka, as media leaders and advocacy groups called for stronger protections against harassment and discrimination in newsrooms across Africa and beyond.
The two-day global event, sponsored by UNESCO and held from May 4 to 5, brought together media practitioners, policymakers and press freedom advocates from across the world under the theme: “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security.”
On May 5, WAN-IFRA Women in News, in partnership with UNESCO, hosted a high-level panel discussion examining gender equality as a core freedom and safety issue in the media industry. WAN-IFRA Women in News Executive Director Susan Makore said the discussion came at a critical moment as media organisations worldwide continue to grapple with harassment, safety concerns and unequal participation in newsrooms.
“The discussion reflects upcoming research by WAN-IFRA Women in News in partnership with BBC Media Action and St George’s University of London, which explores prevalence, reporting mechanisms and actions taken following reports of harassment,” Ms Makore said. She added that the discussions also aligned with UNESCO’s World Trends Report and ongoing efforts to address online harassment targeting journalists, particularly women.
Zimbabwe Media Commission Director for Media Development and Governance Nyaradzo Hazangwi said Zimbabwe had partnered with WAN-IFRA Women in News to develop a sector-wide sexual harassment policy framework for the media industry. “This was not done behind closed doors. We worked together with the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, which is mandated to deal with gender-based violence issues,” she said.
Ms Hazangwi said all media houses in Zimbabwe had been directed to implement internal sexual harassment policies, adding that the framework would also become a tool for enforcing standards during licensing and accreditation processes. “The Commission is moving to make the sexual harassment policy one of the mandatory documents required at registration,” she said.
She further noted that implementation and enforcement would involve multiple stakeholders, including the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the Zimbabwe Media Commission and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.
The panel also featured representatives from regional media and women’s organisations, including International Association of Women in Radio and Television, Zambia Media Women Association chairperson Josephine Karan, who joined virtually, ZAMWA secretary Mwazi Sakala, and was moderated by William Oloo.
Ms Sakala shared regional and lived experiences of women journalists, highlighting how harassment, intimidation and workplace pressures continue to shape reporting and career progression in the media industry. She said Zambia’s media industry had expanded significantly, with more than 200 registered media houses across radio, television, print and online platforms.
“The trend in most newsrooms is that females outnumber men, but unfortunately many work as volunteers and are rarely promoted to full-time or managerial positions,” Ms Sakala said. She noted that while Zambia had made progress in increasing female participation in the media, systemic and cultural barriers continued to affect women journalists.
“Sexual harassment and intimidation in workplaces and in the field continue to affect many upcoming journalists,” she said. Ms Sakala, however, acknowledged the impact of Women in News programmes in Zambia, saying training initiatives had helped trigger the development of sexual harassment policies and increased awareness on gender-based violations in the media sector. “We are hopeful that more trainings can be conducted to ensure that women’s voices are heard,” she said.
