GNMI has hosted a webinar titled “Women in Leadership: Fighting Disinformation & Supporting Independent Media for an Equal Future” on International Women’s Day (IWD) 2021. The event brings together senior women journalists from Pakistan, including Amber Rahim Shamsi, Gharida Farooqi, Ayesha Bakhsh, Asma Shirazi, and Nadia Naqi, and is led by GNMI’s Founder and President, Najia Ashar.

The panel discussion focuses on the pervasive male dominance in newsrooms and societal mindsets that suppress women in both personal and professional aspects of their lives. The panelists have emphasized the crucial need for women’s inclusion in decision-making roles within the media, advocating for the empowerment of women to make their own decisions and dismantle the myth that women cannot handle high-pressure responsibilities. They have acknowledged that societal change is a gradual process, requiring persistent efforts to achieve lasting transformation.

The webinar has also highlighted the inspirational stories of role models women, which are published on GNMI’s social media platforms in celebration of International Women’s Day.