Khadijah Aliyu-Nigeria
The 2025 edition of the African Women in Media (AWiM) Conference has commenced in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme “Beyond Commitments: Advancing Policies for Gender-Safe Media”.
The event brings together over 300 participants from across Africa to discuss gender equality, media representation, and the urgent need to end violence against women and girls.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, AWiM Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola, said this year’s theme was inspired by the 2024 expert consultations on the African Union Convention to End Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG).
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She described the convention, adopted by AU Heads of State in February 2025, as groundbreaking, legally binding treaty dedicated solely to preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. Building on the Maputo Protocol, the treaty addresses long-standing gaps in existing legal frameworks.
Despite its adoption earlier this year, Dr. Akinbobola expressed concern that only seven African countriesAngola, Burundi, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, The Gambia, and Ghana have signed the convention, while none have ratified it. At least 15 ratifications are required for the treaty to come into force.
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“As I speak to you, zero countries have ratified it. Without ratification, the convention exists politically and symbolically but not as an enforceable legal obligation,”
Dr. Akinbobola called on media professionals, civil society, academics, and the creative industries to leverage their platforms to demand leadership and accountability from governments.
She also reminded participants of the Kigali Declaration, co-designed and adopted by 250 delegates at AWiM23, which sets minimum standards for addressing harassment, unsafe newsrooms, online abuse, and harmful narratives affecting women in media.
She highlighted that the Kigali Declaration and the AU convention complement each other one providing continental authority, and the other offering practical steps for implementation.
During the opening session, AWiM launched its AWiM2030 Vision, a strategy guiding the organization’s work over the next decade. The vision rests on three pillars,Networking, Advocacy and Insights as well as Economic Empowerment.
The long-term strategy will be underpinned by AWiM’s “Three Fs” Foresee, Foster, and Future-proof, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and stronger ecosystems for women in media.
Dr. Akinbobola urged participants to collaborate across sectors, borders, and generations to build safer, more inclusive African media spaces.
“What can we build together to make African media a safer, fairer place for women?” she asked.
The two-day conference will feature panels, workshops, and roundtables on media freedom, gender equality, research, capacity-building, and the implementation of the AU Convention to End Violence Against Women and Girls.