Awards to Women Journalists

Viоlеta Јоvаnоv Pеštаnаc, Vlаdimira Dоrčоva Vаltnеrоva and Тiјаna Јаnkоvić are the awarded winners of the best media product competition on participation of women in exercise of ethnic minority rights. They received their awards during today's ceremony held in the Vojvodina Parliament building for their creativity and originality in their journalist's work contributing to public awareness-raising on the significance of gender equality in the field of ethnic minority rights and affirmation of the role of women in national minority councils.

'The quality of the media products in the competition is satisfactory, unlike the number of the competitors, which was symbolic' stated Аnikо Мuškinjа Hајnrih, the Provincial Ombudsman, during the ceremony. In her opinion, journalists need to show more interest in the position of women in the society. Women in (ethnic) minority communities are present in executive positions, where hands-on work is required, but not in leading or decision-making structures. Once again, this indicates that neither the national councils, nor the society in general, understand the role of women in them.

'Serbian media neither see nor recognize the role of women. If they are present in the media at all, it is within the limits of the traditional perception of the role of women as mothers, wives, safe-keepers of tradition and national identity,' pointed out Gоrdаnа Јаnkоvić, the Head of Media Department with the OSCE Mission to Serbia. According to her, the role of the media is not only to inform of the everyday happenings, but to educate as well, including anticipating new social relations and patterns.

Today's awards ceremony was the final activity of a joint initiative of the Provincial Protector of Citizens - Ombudsman and the OSCE Mission to Serbia aimed at promoting gender equality and empowerment of women within the ethnic minority context.