Population First announces The 2nd South Asia Laadli Media & Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2017
Entries to pour from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and host country India
The last date for receiving of entries is 31st May 2018.
Mumbai, 6th March 2018: Population First, the communication and advocacy initiative working towards gender sensitivity today launched “The South Asia Laadli Media & Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2017”in association with IAA, with the support of UNFPA and with UN Global Compact India as the SDG Outreach Partner. A panel discussion was held today in Mumbai to throw light on #PressforProgress - Voices of Women in Media, which is also the theme for International Women's Day this year. Ms. Dolly Thakore - National Coordinator of Laadli Media Awards, Ms. Suneeta Rao - Singer, Performing Artiste and Writer, Dr. A. L. Sharada - Director, Population First, Mr. Kamal Singh - Executive director, UN Global Compact Network India, Ms. Anuja Gulati - State Programme Coordinator, UNFPA and Mr. S.V. Sista - Executive Trustee, Population First were present at the event held in Mumbai. The team of Laadli announced the callfor entries for stories published last year and the deadline for which is 31st May 2018. This year the awards will be much bigger and wider as the Laadli team looks forward to more number of entries from journalists from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan,, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and host country India.According to Dr A L Sharada, Director, Population First “From a mere 100 entries in 2007 to more than 1500 entries in 2015, Laadli Media Awards have come a long way in acknowledging the media’s contribution in women empowerment and gender issues. The increasing volume of discussion in public domain on gender issues is an indication that we are witnessing the beginnings of change. Today with the expansion of Laadli to other developing nations through the support of IAA, we look forward to stories pertaining to gender from five South Asian countries. We hope to continue this momentum, and create a long standing impact of changing the society riddled with patriarchal mindsets”.
Anuja Gulati, State Programme Coordinator, UNFPA explains, "UNFPA partnership with Population First for the Laadli campaign began a decade ago with the institution of the Laadli awards for gender sensitivity in Media. Over the years, Laadli has moved beyond looking at gender content in media to discussions around gender inclusiveness within media and advertising industries and in their work culture. Laadli is now both the reason and result of media and advertising professionals thinking and working in a gender-equal manner . UNFPA will continue to provide technical support to Laadli and Population First. Our journey with them has been both enriching and a cherished one. Mr. Kamal Singh, Executive director, UN Global Compact Network India, stressed on the fact that India has woken up late in addressing the basic needs of women in the country and the highlighted the fact that how gender equality is slowly gaining momentum.
The South Asia Laadli Media & Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity 2017 have been instituted to acknowledge, highlight and celebrate the commendable efforts undertaken by Print and Electronic media (TV, Radio and Web) and Advertising Agencies, to promote gender sensitivity as an integral part of their work. The winners will be chosen by a jury comprising of eminent personalities both from the media and social sector. All the entries should be original and comply with copyright requirements and have been published/ displayed/ broadcast or telecast between 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2017. The last date for receipt of entries is 31st May 2018.
Laadli, a term of endearment meaning ‘cherished daughter’ in Hindi, is a campaign by Population First, a Mumbai-based NGO is a communications and advocacy initiative for a balanced, planned and stable population. Laadli is a comprehensive communication campaign aiming to promote a positive image of women and girls in society by changing the stereotypical mindsets that undervalue women. Laadli Campaign works with communities, colleges and media towards breaking gender barriers and bringing about gender equality in society. Laadli media advocacy includes a number of activities viz., Media fellowships, gender sensitization workshops for working and student journalists, interactive sessions with Creative Directors of TV Channels, Ad analysis with advertising professionals.
Population First (PF) is a communications and advocacy initiative for a balanced, planned and stable population. It was registered in March 2002 under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950. Our key objectives are to help reduce gender imbalances in the population and work towards gender sensitive and social development oriented health and population programmes. We believe that the problem lies not in numbers but in the unequal social development and gender disparities that are prevalent in society. States with lowest gender and social development indices are the ones which have highest population growth rates indicating that women are not able to exercise their sexual and reproductive choices and are denied access to quality health and contraceptive services. (www.populationfirst.org)