European Federation of Journalists

Gender equality and diversity in the European audiovisual sector

On February 2018, the EFJ took part to the kick off meeting of a 24-month project called Monitoring the implementation of the Framework of Action on gender equality and mapping initiatives to promote diversity in the European audiovisual sector. 

A framework of action was agreed by social partners in 2011, this project will focus on where are we now?

Partners include : UNI MEI, FIA, FIM, EFJ, ACT, EBU, AER, independent broadcasters

Overall objective

The aim of this project is to monitor how the Framework of Actions on Gender Equality in the Audiovisual sector (FoA) is currently implemented in the EU Audiovisual sector, and how it can be reviewed and possibly adapted to ensure its sustained relevance and impact. The FoA was approved and adopted by the EU Audiovisual Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee (AV SDC) back in 2011. In this document, European social partners put forward joint considerations and recommendations for actions of their affiliates to enhance gender equality in five key areas: gender portrayal, equality of pay, equality in decision making, gender roles in the work-place, and the reconciliation of work and private life.

During the project period, social partners will also explore sector initiatives fighting discrimination and promoting diversity related to 5 grounds (sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity and nationality, religious belief) and formulate recommendations for further engagement of social partners in this field.

Activities

  • Prepare a handbook on best practices in the AV mainly coming from our respective members
  • Organize 4 national meetings presenting some of the best practices and convening all social partners on the ground
  • Launch the handbook at a conference in Brussels at the end of the project.

This project receives the financial support of the European Union. All responsibilities regarding the contents and the actions belong to the authors only and should not be considered as reflecting the views of the European Union. 

Actions

Serbian Defense Minister sacked for sexist remark

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic announced to replace the Minister of Defense, Bratislav Gasic, following an offensive remark he made on a female journalists  from  B92 Television during a conference on 6 December. Gasic sparked outrage after a journalist from B92 Television knelt down in front of him to avoid being in the way of cameras as he spoke to a group of reporters during a visit to a factory on Sunday. He commented: “I like these female journalists who kneel down so easily.” The EFJ affiates (UNS, NUNS and SINOS) in Serbia immediately reacted to Gasic’s remark and called for him to…

European trade unions call for elimination of violence against women

To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has joined European trade unionists pledging to end violence against women at workplace and in society. According to the European Trade Union Congress (ETUC), the shocking facts are that One in three women have been a victim of physical and/or sexual violence. Just over 1 in 10 of those women were assaulted by someone from work – a supervisor, colleague or customer. Up to half of women in European Union countries experience unwanted sexual advances, physical contact or other forms…

EFJ calls for action to tackle harassment of female journalists

“We must support our female colleagues, defend them and make their voices heard. Harassment and abuses targeting at female journalists shall not be tolerated,” said Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, the EFJ President after the OSCE meeting on online abuses of female journalists on 17 November in Vienna. The conference has gathered international experts in the field to help increase understanding and gravity of the issue  involved best practices and possible solutions to tackle the mounting number of online threats targeting female journalists. During the meeting, experts and journalists spoke about the gravity of the issue and called for urgent action to…

EFJ delegation meets Commissioner Thyssen

Bogus self-employment contradicts EU labour standards, says Commissioner Thyssen

Marianne Thyssen, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility told a delegation of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) on 30 January that the European Commission is taking action to better prevent and deter undeclared work and bogus self-employment which contradicts EU labour standards. The EFJ raised concerns over the complete deregulation of economic and social labour relations in journalism leading to a new precarious workforce who cannot earn a living from journalism. To give concrete examples of the situation, the EFJ delegation gave copies of  recent EFJ reports on Confronting Austerity : Financial and Employment Models…