SECTOR 2 Agreement, which is devoted to the exemption of VAT on books and creative works such as those produced by the media. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 1.9 (2008 = n/a ; 2006 = n/a) 2.7 All media fairly reflect the voices of both women and men. Issues and programmes concerning women exist, but the subjects covered by the media in Mali mostly concern men. “Few women go into editing. That is why there is no great interest in the affairs that concern them. There are always socio-cultural obstacles that block the way to fairness.” With women being the minority in the editing process, and very few women occupying positions of responsibility in editing, there is no equality in the voices of men and women in the media, and this confines women to a secondary role. In addition, the hours that reporters keep are considered incompatible with women’s family obligations, meaning that fewer women become journalists. Nevertheless, the representation of women in the media is developing, and an increasing number of women are joining the profession. The women employed by the media are confined to animator or technical functions, very few occupy responsible positions as redactors or editors. Efforts have to be made to change attitudes about gender issues. 100 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MALI 2010