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Kazakhstan Universities and Media Support Gender-Sensitive Approach in Journalism
The principles of gender equality are actively implemented in Kazakhstan UNESCO Chair in Journalism and Communicatio at KazNU AlFarabi in partnership with the International Program for the Development of Communications and UN Women in Kazakhstan perform a set of tasks aimed at enhancing the competencies of journalists press officers and new media users in the field of supporting gender equality The Chair activities include conducting research in the field of female employment migration and Gendersensitive indicators for the media In October 2018 the department implemented the capacity building project on Strengthening the Curriculum on Gender Journalism as a result of which six higher education courses were introduced at Kazakhstani universities which take considers the gender positions the use of gender aspects was extended to the content of most of training courses An integral part of this project is interaction with practitioners in the regions to whom the media trainers of the UNESCO Chair in Journalism and Communication demonstrate the possibilities of correctly using genderneutral language as a professional tool in covering events in print and electronic media in social networks in preparing press releases and background materials The media needs a balanced approach to cover without infringement of the rights of either men or women and for this no additional investments are required except for competence Nikolay Berendyaev journalist of the newspaper Auyl tynysy Uralsk UN Women in Kazakhstan in partnership with the department specified the objectives and indicators of genderrelated Sustainable Development Goals SDGs until 2030 and expanded practical skills in maintaining gender equality in media content and managing editorial offices in Uralsk West Kazakhstan Region and in the city of Kostanay and its region During the team work at the training seminars Media and Sustainable Development Goals in November 2019 to overcome the stereotyping of men and women in the media journalists presented images that construct public opinion and support the media explaining what qualities are really transparent in the conditions Kazakhstan and which are perceived by society so far wary The topics of presentations interactive games and workshops were based on materials from UNESCO and UN Women expanding gender literacy among media workers During the twoyear period from 2018 to 2019 15 teachers of journalism universities and 34 media journalists were trained Therefore the cooperation between the UN international organizations and the UNESCO Chair in Journalism and Communication of KazNU alFarabi will continue to help improve media skills in showing equal opportunities for men and women Projects are contributing to SDG1610 SDG 5 SDG 47