Media urged to facilitate safe migration of female workers
Media Report
Participants at a workshop Thursday (April 17) laid emphasis on the supportive role of media as a proactive force in facilitating the safe migration of female workers.
They also called for more coverage of news concerning migration of female workers in news media highlighting gender equity and rights to female migrants.
Under a project titled “Proactive Media Instrumental in Safe Female Labour Migration (PROMISE)”, the daylong training workshop for journalists was organised by Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) with the support of United Nations Development Fund for Women (Unifem) at Barisal BDS Auditorium.
At the inaugural session K N M Hossainul Haque, manager of MRDI, spoke about various concepts and issues concerning migration of workers.
In the following two sessions, Khandaker Rezwanul Karim, programme manager of Manusher Jonno Foundation, discussed migration process highlighting relevant rules, regulations and the institutions concerned.
He also spoke about various social, economic, cultural and legal issues pertaining to safe female migration.
The participants called for upholding the ethics of journalism and human rights in writing news stories about female migrant workers.
They also stressed the need for linkage between various news sources related to migration including rights activists, government officials, research organisations, recruiting agencies and NGOs.
Hasibur Rahman, executive director of MRDI, delivered the welcome address and moderated the programme attended by a total of 21 journalists from different national and local dailies, news agencies and electronic media of Barisal division.
Earlier on Wednesday night, MRDI organised a view-exchange meeting of journalists, government officials and NGOs on maximising cooperation between various stakeholders in promoting safe female migration.
Lily Jahan, chair person, Sheikh Rumana, general secretary, and Advocate Sumiya Ahmed, coordinator of Bangladesh Ovibasi Mahila Sramik Association (BOMSA), urged the journalists for projecting positive role of female migrant workers.
