Khadijah Aliyu
The African media network for the promotion of health and environment REMAPSEN has organized a media forum on ending violence against women and girls in Africa, held in Dakar Senegal.
The event attracted 65 participants from 36 member counties of REMAPSEN across West, Central Africa and Madagascar.
In his remarks, REMAPSEN President Mr Youssouf Bamba described the media as a powerful tool in giving hope to women, girls and the vulnerable.
He stressed that REMAPSEN will champion more focus on engagements that will combat violence against women and girls.
“Media can educate, sensitize and influence the opinion to take concrete actions in favor of women as a powerful
Bamba described the presence of Senegal’s minister of family and solidarity the deputy regional director UN Women WCARO, and other distinguished personalities as a testament of how Senegal is dedicated to uplifting women rights.
Declaring the forum open, Senegal minister of family and solidarity, Madame Maimuna Dieye represented by the technical counselor, Oumar Sanab described media as key stakeholders with powers to denounce inequalities.
She highlighted that, the ministry will magnify framework on policies and programs aimed at eradicating challenges faced by African women.
“Media is key to shed light on challenges we need to work on to have policies and programs to promote programs to promote safe environment for all”
The minister maintained that, the development of African cannot be possible without eradicating violence against women.
The deputy regional director of UN women (WCARO) Mrs.Mireille Kamitatu explained that, the private sector, media and UN will work together to end violence against women.
“The campaign is inline with the UN countries to end violence against women “
She descried over rising cases of violence against women in Africa, saying that, more investment, innovative, political will from the actors especially media will close the gap”
Maimuna hinted that, a UN women report revealed that, within every 10 minutes a women is killed by an intimate partner or close family member, hence the need to unite and take action as media has a crucial role to develop communication strategy”
The deputy director urged the media as agents of change, champions of women to use their platforms, to expose the reality of gender based violence.
The event tagged: media forum on ending violence against women and girls in Africa: Respecting women’s Rights and empowering women’ is organized by REMAPSEN in collaboration with UN women and French MUSKOKA Funds.
The forum marked a significant step towards promoting women’s rights and combating gender-based violence in Africa, aligning with the UN’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which runs from November 25 to December 10.