Organizations supporting March 8 : Women Make the News

If you want your organization to be listed on this page, send your support to march8@unesco.org

United Nations Message from the Secretary General, Kofi. A. Annan http://www.un.org "I cannot think of a single issue in the news that is not a woman's issue. Women are every bit as much affected as any man by peace and security, by human security, by human rights. It is, therefore, right and indeed necessary that women should be there to cover these issues, with equal strength and in equal numbers. On behalf of the United Nations, let me therefore praise UNESCO for this initiative. It is a fine way of marking the first International Women's Day of the 21st century."

The European Commission Message from the European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Anna Diamantopoulou http://europa.eu.int/ "The glass ceiling continues to keep a critical mass of women out of the media, both as shapers and subjects of the news. As media matters, as it influences our lives, women and men must contribute equally. This is why I support this campaign wholeheartedly".

International Federation of Journalists Message from IFJ Project Director, Bettina Peters http://www.ifj.org The International Federation of Journalists, which represents more than 450,000 women and men working in media across the globe, today expressed its support to the UNESCO March 8 media initiative to mark International Women's Day. "The contribution female journalists have made to the defence of press freedom and journalists' rights is still not sufficiently recognised" "We have come a long way in the last years, more and more women work in all areas of journalism but still too few women hold executive positions. We support UNESCO's initiative to focus on equal opportunities for women working in the media." The IFJ has a women's working party which is building a network of women representatives and equality officers in its 140 member organisations. During its World Congress in Korea in 2001 the IFJ will mark the contribution of women to the defence of journalists' rights on May 3, World Press Freedom Day.

International Women's Media Foundation Message from IWMF Co-Chair, Carole Simpson, ABC News http://www.iwmf.org "UNESCO's initiative is a much needed call for action. Media companies need to be reminded of the enormous contributions women can and should make in shaping our image of the world. The IWMF congratulates UNESCO on this effort." "In every part of the globe, women with considerable talent and ambition continue to be frustrated in their efforts to move into decision making roles within the news media. With so few of us in positions of power, women have not had the leverage to successfully challenge the stereotypes of women as portrayed by the media, or to change the perspective of the media, its priorities or its values."