Miami (March 7, 2025) – On the eve of International Women's Day, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) reaffirms its commitment to journalism that highlights inequalities, denounces violence, and promotes more just and inclusive societies.
Thirty years after the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, advances in gender equality are facing concerning setbacks. In this scenario, the role of journalism is more crucial than ever: not only as a witness to changes but as a key factor in defending fundamental rights.
The initial years following the summit saw significant recognition from NGOs to states. Substantial progress was made in various countries worldwide, certainly in our Americas, in the subsequent years.
"Journalism is responsible for exposing the barriers that persist for women and diversities in our societies. It is important to sustain the progress made and prevent it from being reversed by restrictive policies," said José Roberto Dutriz, President of IAPA, CEO, and General Director of La Prensa Gráfica from El Salvador.
However, the scenario 30 years later shows regression due to increasing conservatism, the reorganization of anti-rights groups, and coordinated efforts to access education.
At the IAPA, we have advocated for gender-perspective journalism, insisting on viewing issues from a women's and LGBT+ community perspective. We have emphasized that these issues must be acknowledged.
Legal reforms have advanced, theoretically guaranteeing rights and freedoms, but they are far from ensuring egalitarian societies. Their implementation has been slow and fraught with obstacles.
Conversely, we have seen the development of specialized gender-focused sites with high-quality journalism addressing specific issues that provide a real insight into feminism.
Progress in mainstream media has been very slow; fewer than a dozen of the registered media outlets in our continent have a gender editor, whose crucial role is to ensure a comprehensive approach even in high-profile topics.
Martha Ramos, President of the Gender Equity and Diversity Committee at IAPA, added: "It is not enough to merely report reality; we must transform it through coverage, newsrooms, and media management. Equity is not a passing trend but an urgent necessity," said Ramos, who is also Editorial Director of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM).
The number of female executives in media has stagnated or grown very slowly. According to the Reuters Institute, analyzing 240 editorial brands across 12 different markets worldwide, only 27% of chief editors are women, up from 24% in 2024, considering that 40% of newsroom staff are women.
In the face of increasingly evident radicalization in state policies, leaders' speeches, and social groups, journalism plays a fundamental role. Journalists are committed to those who read us and those who trust us.
We are facing a complex and challenging scenario. Instead of consolidating and deepening the achievements made, we face a wave of setbacks driven by the advancement of conservative sectors and the reorganization of anti-rights groups. Gender-based violence remains a global crisis, the gender pay gap persists, and sexual and reproductive rights continue to be disputed in many countries.
In this context, journalism has an unavoidable responsibility. Not only because the media have witnessed and reported on these advances and setbacks but because they have the power to shape public discourse, highlight injustices, and raise awareness. In this context, gender perspective journalism is not a luxury or a concession but an ethical obligation. We have stressed the need to view reality through a lens that integrates the voices and experiences of women and diversities. But insisting is no longer enough: action is urgent.
Thirty years after Beijing, the commitment remains: not to remain silent, not to regress, and never to stop looking.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
