Media Personnel Capacity Building Workshop on Gender Equality and Child Rights Commences in Karachi
Chehra WebDesk
A two-day workshop titled "PATHWAY TO EQUALITY:
Capacity Building of Media Personnel on Gender Equality and Child Rights" commenced on October 27, 2025, in Karachi, Pakistan.
The event is organized by UNICEF Pakistan, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), and the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC).
The workshop is being held at the Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi, running from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on both October 27 and 28, 2025.
Karachi A two-day national workshop, "Gender & Child Rights: Pathway to Equality," commenced today in Karachi bringing together key stakeholders to bridge the gap between human rights commitments and media practice in Pakistan.
The intensive training, co-organized by UNICEF, the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), and the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW, focuses on embedding ethical and gender-sensitive journalism standards when reporting on children and women.
Call for Equitable Reporting
The workshop opened with a clear focus on accountability and equity.
A representative from the NCRC delivered opening remarks stressing the necessity of "gender-equitable child rights reporting," noting that the media plays a pivotal role in ensuring pathways to equity for every child.
This was followed by the NCSW representative's address, which focused on the current landscape of gender equality in Pakistan and outlining future strategies for progress.
The subsequent sessions immediately delved into the core legal and ethical frameworks that underpin child and women’s rights.
The training facilitator guided participants through an overview of international human-rights treaties, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality)
Case Studies Reveal Ethical Breaches
A critical segment of Day 1 was a practical Case Study Lab," where journalists analyzed **real Pakistani news stories that were found to have breached ethical and gender-sensitive standards.
This included stories where child victims were named or insensitive visuals were used.
Participants were tasked with collectively rewriting or reframing these reports to meet ethical guidelines, ensuring dignity and privacy are protected.
The session highlighted the intersecting vulnerabilities faced by children, particularly girls, and linked these portrayals directly to national gender policies and international obligations.
The day concluded with an Expert Panel session featuring representatives from UNICEF.
The panel, titled “From Rights to Representation – How Ethical Journalism Can Protect and Empower Children and Women,” engaged in a comprehensive discussion on the media’s profound impact on public perception and the imperative for ethical reporting to move beyond sensationalism toward genuine empowerment.
Day 2 is scheduled to focus on the practical application of an Ethical Journalism Checklist across print, online, and broadcast platforms.
