AU, UNFPA train African media professionals on sensitive reportage of harmful traditional practices
The African Union Commission Directorate of Social Development, Culture and Sports has called on African media practitioners to do more in reporting sensitive cultural issues affecting children, women and girls with an ethical lens.
The regional body in partnership with the UNFPA and UNICEF made the call at an international media forum of over 70 media practitioners from West, Central and Northern regions on reporting sensitive and harmful traditional practices including FGM at its headquarters in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
In her opening remarks, the AUC acting director of social affairs, Madam Angela Martins emphasised the role of the media in ending harmful traditional practises done against women and girls.
Adaba FM’s Moninkanola Ogidan who is one of the participants reports that the training is centered on mobilizing support for media practitioners and university journalism faculty members from member states currently implementing the AU Campaigns on Ending Child Marriage and Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The media experts are expected to lead actions and reforms towards ethical, informed, balanced, and human rights focused reporting on sensitive and harmful traditional practices.
The session is being attended by representatives from Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, Djibouti, Egypt, Chad, Liberia, Kenya, The Gambia, Mali, Benin, Chad, Guinea, Chad, Tunisia, and Uganda, respectively.
