The African Media Network for the Promotion of Health and Environment (REMAPSEN) has committed to playing a significant role in combating violence against women and girls while championing their empowerment.

This call was made during the opening ceremony of the Media Forum on Violence Against Women and Girls, held as part of a 16-day Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Opening the forum in Senegal, REMAPSEN President Mr Bamba Youssouf emphasised the unique role of the media in raising awareness, influencing behaviour, and mobilising public opinion to address gender-based violence.

"By organising this forum, African media aims to play a significant role in this noble fight against violence towards women and girls and to promote their empowerment," he said.

The forum, hosted in Dakar with the support of UN Women and the French Muskoka Fund, brought together 70 participants from across West and Central Africa and Madagascar. It serves as a platform to enhance the capacity of journalists to produce impactful media content that advocates respect for women's rights, even in the face of political and military crises affecting the region.

The media forum aligns with REMAPSEN's broader vision of strengthening media coalitions to advance women's rights.

"The imminent establishment of a media coalition to promote women’s rights in Africa will accelerate this progress starting in 2025," Mr Youssouf noted.

Participants are expected to return to their respective countries empowered with tools and strategies to amplify the voices of women and girls, ensuring their stories are heard and their rights are upheld.