Fay Volatabu, the Executive Director of femLinkPacific, commended the growing involvement of women in media leadership during the 7th Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Summit held in Niue last week. A staunch advocate for gender equality, Volatabu celebrated a notable advancement reflected in the new seven-member PINA Board, which now includes three women, an increase from two in the prior board.
At the summit’s conclusion, Volatabu expressed her excitement, stating, “It’s been a massive win for women, and I’m thrilled to be here in Niue at the seventh PINA Summit, contributing to the future of women journalists.” She acknowledged the quota as a pivotal achievement for women in journalism, further stating, “We’ve always discussed quotas, and here we see the profession implementing them. I thank the male journalists for their understanding and support in this endeavor.”
This notable change was announced on the final day of the summit, which featured a two-day pre-summit forum that gathered women media professionals from the Melanesian region to address their challenges and suggest solutions. This resulted in a communiqué that was further emphasized during a panel discussion as the main summit commenced.
Volatabu highlighted the importance of this milestone in light of next year’s 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, stating, “Next year, for Beijing plus 30, the media community can claim a significant achievement with a 50% quota representation on the Executive Board.”
The Women in Media training held alongside the PINA Summit convened female journalists from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Women in Media Australia. Over two days, participants discussed gender roles, policies influencing women journalists, and issues like Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). This training produced a communiqué detailing recommendations aimed at enhancing working conditions and leadership opportunities for women in media, including policy reforms, leadership quotas, psychosocial support, and enhanced collaboration with governments and development partners.
Key recommendations included establishing a focal point within PINA to review policies and implement safety protocols for women journalists in high-risk areas, realizing a 50/50 gender quota in the PINA Executive Board and creating a Women in Media Forum prior to each PINA Summit, providing psychosocial support for women journalists, ensuring their inclusion in government delegations for a gender perspective, and fostering collaboration with development partners to support women in media.
A panel discussion titled “Women in Media” drew attention to the significance of gender equality in media leadership, featuring insights from prominent figures including Rosi Doviverata, Georgina Kekea, Marjorie Finkeo, Rita Bill, and Iva Danford Naisara, among others. The panelists emphasized the progress made and reiterated their commitment to advancing gender parity in media.
Looking to the future, Volatabu is hopeful about continued progress for women in media. “I will travel to Vanuatu this week to further our work, and we hope funders will continue to support women’s initiatives in the region,” she noted, stressing the need for ongoing support from donors and regional governments. The communique, the implementation of the quota, and the active discussions surrounding gender inclusion in media symbolize the Pacific region’s dedication to fostering gender equality in journalism, setting the stage for women journalists to have a more significant impact on the media landscape.