ENGENDERING THE AIRWAVES: AMARC-WIN PRESENTS GENDER POLICY IN COMMUNITY RADIO IN BANGLADESH

A proposed gender policy in community radio was presented for the first time at the regional roundtable meeting of the World Association of Community Broadcasters (AMARC) on 9 July 2008 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Informed by an extensive survey conducted by AMARC-Women's International Network Asia-Pacific, the proposed gender policy reinforces the crucial nature of women's participation in community radio.

Based on AMARC-WIN Asia Pacific survey, 45 per cent of staff and volunteers are women but only 28 per cent of them are in leadership positions and 30 per cent performing technical tasks. Among the concerns that they cited were: lack of technical skills; security and violence; less chances to present their view points; and less access to decision-making. They complained of the male-dominated radio set-up, that intimidates them and hinders their participation.