D. Creating an enabling environment awareness also of the important role of the media in informing and educating people about the causes and effects of violence against women. 12. The creation of a positive environment is a condi- tion to promote measures intended to achieve a balanced portrayal of women and girls. Changes should be promoted in an enabling way and not through prescription. Ongoing research, including the establishment of indicators and monitoring, is important for assessing progress. 7. The following initiatives are among those which could be taken, as appropriate, consistent with the freedom of expression: (a) Encourage the media to take part in interna- tional discussions, including the exchange of information and sharing of best practices on voluntary guidelines on a gender-balanced portrayal of women and men. Special attention should be given to the proliferation of transborder and global communications; 13. An enabling environment should also be created for women's media, including at the international level, such as the development of "Womenwatch", a World Wide Web home page to link the United Nations and its activities for women with non-governmental organizations, academics and other users of the Internet. The vital role of non-governmental organizations in media education, research, consumer advocacy and monitoring should be recognized and enhanced. (b) Support and encourage women's equal participa- tion in management, programming, education, training and research, including through positive action and equal opportunity policies, with the goal of achieving gender balance in all areas and at all levels of media work, as well as in the media advisory, regulatory and monitoring bodies. 14. Media networks should be encouraged to make a commitment or strengthen their commitment to gender equality. Public media, where they exist, should be encouraged to set an example for private media by their commitment and contribution to the advancement of women. C. The important role of media education 8. Media education, through, for example, practical 15. Governments should support research into all workshops and training sessions, is an effective way to create greater awareness of gender stereotyping and equality issues among the general public, government, media industries and professionals. aspects of women and the media so as to define areas needing attention and action, and should review existing media policies with a view to integrating a gender perspective. 9. In countries where major parts of the population, 16. To the extent consistent with freedom of expression, including many women, are illiterate or media illiterate, Governments should support the goal of providing appropriate education and training. Governments should take effective measures or institute such measures, including appropriate legislation against pornography and the projection of violence against women and children in the media. 10. Civil society at large has an important role in exercising its influence on media content and stereotyped portrayal through consumer action and advocacy and different forms of media watch. E. Women and global communications 17. Advances in information technology have opened 11. At the international level, an exchange of national up boundaries. The role of women in global communication networks needs to be strengthened. Barriers to such information technology and to women's involvement at every level of its development should be reduced. ■ experiences on media education and other measures can benefit legislators, national broadcasting authorities and media professionals. Source: United Nations document E/1996/27 2