International Association of Women in Radio and Television
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The International Association of Women in Radio and Television ( IAWRT ) - was founded in 1949 and held the first conference of its own in 1951. One of the founders of the organization, Willemien Hendrika (Posthumus-) van der Goot [1], left an extensive collection of papers from its early years, which are housed at the IIAV (Internationaal Informatiecentrum en Archief voor de Vrouwenbeweging), a major women's archive based in Amsterdam [2].
During the 1950s through 1980s, IAWRT was a friendship organization between women journalists on either side of the Iron Curtain, intended to promote peace. At first, only one member from each country was permitted to join. As times changed, IAWRT became more of a north-south friendship organization for media women.
It now has large chapters in several countries where conferences have been held, and where recent changes in media regulations have opened up the media profession, including India, Ghana, and Kenya. The group is in consultative status with ECOSOC and the United Nations Department of Public Information. It holds a biennial conference and themed awards competition for women radio and television producers. It also supports regional trainings, film festivals, productions, and scholarships. Many of its activities are funded by FOKUS, the Norwegian Forum for Women and Development supported by NORAD. [3] The President for 2005-2007 is Frieda Werden of Canada. The UN Representative is Mal Johnson of the US. The Awards Coordinator is Gerd Inger Polden from Norway. The 2007 conference will take place in Nairobi, Kenya.
