Female journalists were yesterday called on to be spokespersons for women.The call was made by the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Aloysea Inyumba, during a general assembly of Rwanda Female Journalists Association (ARFEM).She told the female media practitioners that they can play a great role in the empowerment of Rwandan women if they utilised the opportunity at their disposal.“Every woman in this nation has an untold story but they need a voice to speak on their behalf. Female journalists should, therefore, take up their role and maximise their opportunity by raising issues that can help empower women,” she said.Inyumba urged the practitioners to make good use of the responsibility they have, raise strategic issues and also promote gender through helping Rwandans change their mindsets on issues related to gender inequality.She also advised them to educate women on pertinent issues that will help them, develop such as economic empowerment, gender based violence, nutrition and other capacity raising matters.Faith Mbabazi, the chairperson of ARFEM, also called upon the media to be more active and advocate for women’s rights.“We should be the ones to tell the stories of women in this nation, educate and inform them on issues concerning them, thus, empowering them. We should also reach out to the women at the grassroots through our tool, the media,” she said.Mbabazi also noted that there are very few women in the media because they are scared of the profession. She called upon those already there to encourage others.Emmanuel Mugisha, the acting Executive Secretary of the Media High Council, commended the association of female journalists for being pro-active and promised that the council would continue empowering female media practitioners.“Empowering female media practitioners is a priority .When the female journalists get empowered, it’s like every sector gets empowered since they reach out to all,” he said.During the same meeting, ARFEM officially launched a book titled “Moving out of the Shadow of Darkness.”The book recounts the horrific experiences of women who were raped, tortured and forcefully sent out of their homes. It also shares the experiences of female journalists from Rwanda, DRC and Burundi.
