Khadijah Aliyu- Nigeria
The African Union (AU) has reiterated that its Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment places strong emphasis on the need to work with and support practitioners in the media, cultural, and creative industries.
This was disclosed by Leslie Richer, Director of the African Union Information and Communication Directorate, during his welcome address at the AWiM25 Women in Media Conference held at the AU Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
AU Reaffirms Commitment to Gender Equality, Calls for Stronger Support for Women in Media
According to Richer, supporting media professionals is vital to developing and implementing policies and laws that promote women’s equal and fair representation.
He commended African Women in Media (AWiM) for consistently creating a platform where women in the media industry can share experiences, learn from one another, and advocate for greater inclusion of women in Africa’s media sector while contributing to the continent’s broader development agenda.
Richer noted that the world is experiencing a historic moment shaped by rapid technological advancement and an increasing reliance on digital communication.
“The digital space has been a game-changer for media and content creators, forcing greater awareness of what content is relevant and necessary for our societies,”
he said.
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He also described online harassment and digital threats as a severe form of gender-based violence that must be addressed through legal action.
He added that poor representation of women in the tech industry has contributed to this challenge.
“As we advance the African Union’s gender equality and women’s empowerment agenda, the media and especially women in the media must do their part in challenging and dismantling stereotypical narratives about women.
Instead, the focus should be on telling stories of change-makers, inspirational women, and heroines who are forging paths for others”
During the keynote panel titled “Strengthening Media and Regulatory Frameworks for Gender Equality and Youth Empowerment,” speakers highlighted the need for a systematic approach, stronger safety measures, policy enforcement, and the use of gender disaggregated data as key catalysts for achieving gender equality across the media landscape.