Cairo, Egypt – The first training course on “Gender-Sensitive Media Coverage in Conflict Situations” was held from 15-18 April 2018.  The training, organized in collaboration with UN Women, brought together 26 media professionals covering conflict areas from the Arab World. The countries represented were Libya, Iraq, Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Jordan, in addition to Egypt.
 
CCCPA’s decision to launch this new and innovative program comes as a recognition of the important role that professional media plays in societies in times of peace and war. According to UN Women, “The media are potentially powerful channels of information in a society. The messages they transmit can change or reinforce social norms and behaviors and mobilize citizens to take progressive actions.” 
 
In conflict and post-conflict situations, the media can play a critical role in advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Media raise awareness of the plight, suffering and vulnerability of those affected by conflict–most notably women, hence contributing to protection efforts. As highlighted by the Global Study on Women, Peace and Security, “global media and advances in communication technology has brought the stark reality of existing conflicts into people’s living rooms and workplaces, thereby raising awareness about the scale of destruction, and the pain and suffering of civilian casualties.” 
 
On the other hand, media sheds light on the many positive roles that women have played, and continue to play, in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding around the world, hence contributing to the implementation of the other three pillars of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, namely (1) prevention, (2) participation, and (3) peacebuilding and recovery.  
 
In this highly interactive and thought-provoking training, media professionals are encouraged to reflect on their own perceptions and attitudes regarding gender and conflict. The training also aims to: 
• provide participants with the necessary knowledge/skills to understand the complexities of modern armed conflict (conflict analysis for media professionals);
• improve participant ability to conduct professional, gender-sensitive reporting in the specific context of conflict and the challenges associated therewith;
• improve participants’ understanding of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda; and
• raise awareness of the challenges and risks associated with working in hostile environments.