Okonjo-Iweala reacts as Swiss press authorities sanction newspaper for abusing her

For calling World Trade Organisation’s D-G Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala a grandmother, Aargauer Zeitung is taking a lot of hits in Switzerland, including the country’s press council.

The regional newspaper published a headline–Grandmother becomes boss of WTO–when she was appointed in 2020.

The headline was criticized as being racial and sexist.

The Swiss Press Council examined the charges, and concluded the newspaper’s choice of words had been motivated by gender discrimination or racial discrimination.

In her reaction, Okonjo-Iweala posted on her Facebook page, “I welcome the ruling of the Swiss Press Council calling out the gender bias & sexism of Swiss newspaper Aargauer Zeitung for its headline ‘Grandmother becomes boss of WTO’ upon my appointment,’ she wrote.

“It is right to call out sexism, racism or both when you see it!”

The paper had apologized, but many considered the apology a tad too late.