International Federation of Journalists’ delegates convening at the IFJ’s Centenary Congress, which was held on 4-7 May in Paris, have shown a clear commitment to strengthening gender equality in the world’s leading organisation for journalists. They have done so by electing the IFJ’s second woman president in a row, approving a constitutional change adopting a 50-50 parity quota and electing a new Executive Committee, which is already fully compliant with the gender quota that will be operational at its next congress.
On 6 May 2026, Peruvian journalist and trade unionist Zuliana Lainez was elected President of the IFJ, thus becoming the first Latin American leader to take on this leading role. After serving on the IFJ’s Executive Committee for 16 years, Lainez, the President of the Asociación Nacional de Periodistas del Perú (ANP), succeeded Dominique Pradalié (SNJ-France), who had led the Federation for the previous four years.
Lainez is the third woman President of the IFJ in its 100-year history, following in the footsteps of French journalist Pradalié (2022-2026) and Belgian journalist Mia Doornaert (1986-1992).
The IFJ’s world Congress took the opportunity to strengthen gender equality in the Federation by adopting a constitutional change that set a 50-50 gender parity quota in the IFJ’s Executive Committee.
The quota, which will be applicable at the next Congress elections in 2029, has already been implemented by IFJ delegates. They did so by electing a 50-50 gender parity Executive Committee, composed of journalists from all across the world, for the first time in the IFJ’s history.
IFJ Gender Council Chair Maria Angeles Samperio said: “Achieving gender parity on the current Executive Committee before the amendment to the statutes approved in the Paris congress comes into force is a significant step forward for equality within the IFJ. The Gender Council faces new challenges in supporting women journalists so that they can practise their profession freely and safely. We want to be close to women journalists around the world and have the support of all unions. Furthermore, having a woman as president who is committed to equality encourages us to continue working with vigour.”
IFJ President Zuliana Lainez said: “My election as president is a historic moment for the Latin American region, with a woman from the southern part of the continent taking on this role. A woman president brought the first century of the IFJ to a close and a woman is opening its second century. It is an immense challenge at a time when journalists around the world are under attack. The challenge now is to open pathways — and our statutory reform is aimed at this — so that reaching leadership positions is no longer more difficult simply because one is a woman. Equality depends on that.”
Source: IFJ
