Dakar, Senegal – The African Media Network for the Promotion of Health and environment, known by its French acronym, REMAPSEN, is hosting a media forum aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls across Africa.
The event, which gathers over 60 participants from 36 member countries of REMAPSEN, representing regions such as West and Central Africa, as well as Madagascar, is taking place from the 4th to the 6th of December.
In his opening remarks, REMAPSEN President Youssouf Bamba emphasized the media’s vital role in empowering women and vulnerable populations.
He pledged REMAPSEN’s commitment towards increasing efforts to combat violence against women and girls, highlighting the media’s capacity to educate and influence public opinion to drive meaningful change.
Bamba described the presence of notable figures, including Senegal’s Minister of Family and Solidarity as a show of Senegal’s commitment to advancing women’s rights.
For her part, the Minister of Family and Solidarity, through her representative, described the media as key stakeholders capable of addressing inequalities and called for enhanced policies and programs to tackle the challenges faced by African women.
“Media plays a vital role in highlighting the issues we need to address in order to create policies and programs that foster a safe environment for all.”
The Minister stressed that sustainable development in Africa cannot occur without effectively eradicating violence against women.
For her part, Mireille Kamitatu, Deputy Regional Director of UN Women (WCARO), echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for collaboration among the private sector, media, and UN agencies to end violence against women. She pointed out the alarming rise in such incidents across the continent, advocating for increased investment, innovative solutions, and a strong political commitment from all stakeholders, particularly the media.
Madame Kamitatu shared a troubling statistic from a UN Women report indicating that a woman is killed by an intimate partner or close family member every 10 minutes, highlighting the urgent need for unified action and strategic communication from the media to address this crisis.
The forum, titled “Media Forum on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Africa: Respecting Women’s Rights and Empowering Women,” was organized in partnership with UN Women and the French Muskoka Funds.
It represents a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to promote women’s rights and combat gender-based violence in Africa, as part of the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which takes place from November 25 to December 10 every year.
