Kingston, Jamaica – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) invites Caribbean reporters working in the region and those from Caribbean communities in North America and Europe to submit their work for the UNFPA 2005 Caribbean Media Awards to be presented in Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday, December 6, 2005.
The competition will recognize print, radio and television reporters’ efforts under the theme “Gender Equality, Reproductive Health and the Millennium Development Goals.” This includes coverage of such subjects as addressing gender inequities through education, how gender inequalities fuel the HIV/AIDS epidemic among young people, how boys and young men can foster the idea of partnership and mutually supportive relations with women, with special attention on HIV prevention and responsible parenthood, the human rights of girls and their equal access to education, health and developmental opportunities, and the connections between population, poverty reduction and sustainable development.
Harold Robinson, Kingston-based UNFPA Representative for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, elaborated, “Gender equality is not only about women. It is about how both men and women are given the same choices, opportunities and means to fulfill their expectations in life. It is a simple message, but one that could have a profound impact in our society, if fully achieved.”
Robinson added that equality means that both girls and boys should complete primary and secondary education and are equipped with the skills and abilities to become independent, productive adults; that economic opportunities are open to women; and that families, especially those living in poverty, benefit from the support of healthy mothers. “Equality also means that women are fully empowered to participate in politics and decision-making,” he asserted.
The December 6, UNFPA Caribbean Media Awards will recognize writers, editors and broadcasters for work published or broadcast between September 16, 2004 and October 14, 2005 in print, radio or television, and also recognize outstanding work in the youth reporter (under 21 years of age) and Diaspora reporter categories. Entries will be accepted by the UNFPA Representative in Jamaica (for Jamaica entries only) and the Washington-based Counterpart International, co-producers of the event.
For entry forms and further instructions, visit www.caribbeanmediaawards.com/Default.aspx?tabid=277.
Deadline for entries is October 15, 2005 and entrants are encouraged to email their work in PDF format to [email protected].
Single, double or joint entries will be accepted from the following Caribbean territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks and Caicos Islands and Trinidad and Tobago.
Entrants should send two copies each of their entry or entries. A written transcript assists judging radio and TV entries. Entries will be accepted for news reports, features, series, human interest stories, on-air contributions to public debate, soap operas, films and documentaries, while investigative work is welcome.
