CHR, DSWD remind media on gender-sensitive language, reporting in celebrating Women’s Month
By Niña Jonalyn B. Gambe-Diamante
CHR Caraga, through Edson B. Alijo, officer-in-charge of the Promotion and Advocacy Division, discussed the use of gender-sensitive language in the media. “As public communicators and multipliers of information, upholding the rights and dignity of each human being, regardless of gender, is a shared responsibility. We must ensure that news reports remain free from bias and that gender representation remains fair,” Alijo said.
The reminder stemmed from concerns that certain media reports fall short in upholding the dignity of women by resorting to objectification and victim-blaming.
This year’s NWM sub-theme “Lead like the babaylans, Filipinas!” recognizes the vital role of women in society as community leaders and their invaluable contributions to nation-building.
In a press conference following the NWM kick-off program, Jessie Catherine B. Aranas, chief of the Protective Services Division of DSWD Caraga, underscored the media’s role in relaying accurate information. “Our media partners play a significant role in relaying accurate information to the public. One concrete example of which is the ability to reach even the farthest barangays, particularly those that belong to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), bringing information through different channels, such as print and radio broadcast in the absence of stable internet connectivity,” Aranas said.
She noted, however, that while local media outlets are private practitioners, they serve as the government’s communication arm, ensuring the widest dissemination of information, especially on policies and measures to combat gender-based violence.
To strengthen gender-sensitive reporting among local media, the CHR and DSWD, through the Caraga Regional Interagency Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (RIACAT-VAWC), will also conduct an online orientation on the topic for media partners in the region. This initiative is part of the activities lined up for the 2026 NWM celebration.
The continued partnership between government agencies and private media is a vital initiative in fostering an inclusive society free from any gender bias.
By working hand in hand, both sectors ensure that information disseminated to the public not only reaches the widest audience but also upholds the dignity and equal representation of all individuals. Such collaboration reinforces the shared responsibility of promoting respect, fairness, and empowerment, paving the way for a community where gender equality is both practiced and protected. (NJGD/PIA Caraga)
