By Ndey Sowe
Women across the globe marked International Women’s Day 2025 on Saturday, March 8, under the theme ‘Accelerate Action,’ calling for urgent progress toward gender parity.
In The Gambia, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing gender equality, emphasizing the need to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all.
Highlighting the remarkable achievements of women in the media while advocating for gender equity, the Women Journalists Association of The Gambia (WoJAG) underscored the need to move beyond mere celebrations and take concrete action.
Women in Media Demand Fair Treatment
“Equality is not a privilege; it is a right,” said Annette Camara, President of WoJAG. “Women in the media are shaping nations, leading industries, and making history, yet we continue to fight for equal pay and improved working conditions. But we will not stop until opportunities and wages are equal, and until every girl knows she is unstoppable.”
Under the campaign theme ‘Accelerate Action,’ Camara said WoJAG is committed to engaging media institutions and stakeholders to push for gender equality in the Gambian media industry.
“This, we believe, will accelerate efforts to eliminate the unfavorable working conditions women journalists face in newsrooms,” she added.
Addressing Gender Disparities in Media Workplaces
Banna Sabally, Secretary General of WoJAG, acknowledged that ensuring equitable working conditions for women in media is an ongoing struggle.
“Gaining an equitable and non-exploitative media space for women will not be an easy task,” Sabally said. “It requires a collective effort from everyone—women included—to remove barriers and foster an environment of equal opportunities and fair working conditions for female journalists.”
A 2020 Gambia Press Union (GPU) study on sexual harassment and working conditions of media workers highlighted significant gender-based challenges in newsrooms. The study found that about 50% of respondents faced workplace discrimination based on gender. It also revealed major gaps between men and women in terms of pay, positions held, and overall treatment in the media industry.
WoJAG’s Call to Action for Media Employers
WoJAG is urging media employers to renew their commitment to gender equality by complying with local and international labor standards, ensuring women journalists are employed under written contracts, fairly paid, and granted benefits such as health insurance, further education/training, and social security. It calls for bridging the gender gap in newsrooms by appointing more women to editorial boards and decision-making roles within media houses as well as implementing the GPU Sexual Harassment Policy to create a safer, more conducive working environment for female journalists.
Despite existing challenges, women journalists continue to play a crucial role in the Gambian media, working as reporters, editors, technicians, managers, and even media proprietors. Recent years have seen an increase in female enrollments at the University of The Gambia’s School of Journalism and Digital Media, as well as the GPU-affiliated Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC), leading to an unprecedented rise in women graduating with journalism diplomas and degrees.
Isatou Keita, President of the GPU, described International Women’s Day as a moment for reflection—not only to celebrate achievements but to confront the persistent barriers holding women back, particularly in leadership and decision-making roles.
“In our context, women have made remarkable strides in education, political participation, and leadership,” Keita said. “More women are stepping into spaces that were once male-dominated, and awareness around gender equity, workplace discrimination, and women’s empowerment is growing.”
Keita reaffirmed the GPU’s commitment to gender equity through mentorship, advocacy, and leadership programs in partnership with WoJAG.
“We cannot wait to be empowered—we must empower ourselves and demand a seat at the decision-making table,” Keita asserted. “The wage gap, workplace inequalities, and limited career progression for women remain stark realities in many sectors, and the media is no exception. It’s not enough to have more women in newsrooms; we must ensure they have the power to shape narratives and redefine the industry.”
Calling on her colleagues in the media, Keita encouraged women to keep pushing for change.
“We must work harder, demand space, and take what rightfully belongs to us. The fight for gender equity is a collective responsibility,” she concluded.
