Secretary of the UAE Journalists Association Muna Bu Samra has been elected member of the executive committee of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Commission on Gender Equality at the federation's general conference, which kicked off in the Irish Capital of Dublin on Tuesday. Chairman of the UAE Journalists Association Mohammed Yousouf said the election of Bu Samra was a result of her effective role over the last seven years on the commission, which is assigned with following up the issues of women working in media, especially in the Arab region. Bu Samra said she would submit a proposal to the commission to organise workshops and training courses in the countries in the region in general and the UAE in particular. Studies will be carried out on the status of women working in journalism and the challenges they faced. The commission selected Mania Bu El Afia from the Moroccan Syndicate as co-chairwoman along with the former chairwoman of the UK Syndicate, while Nigerian and Cameroonian representatives were selected two deputy chairpersons. A number of media persons and representatives of journalist trade unions in the world spoke about the realities in their countries and the problems and difficulties they face while discharging their duty. Marwan Al Damaj, member of the board of directors of the Journalist Syndicate in Yemen, said the situation of the Press in his country had deteriorated as there were attempts to gag them. From Khaleej Times