INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE
Press Release No: 150/2024 Date: 16th August 2024
Venue: Dakar, Senegal
AUC Engages African Journalists to Change Labour Migration Narrative
The African Union Commission (AUC) has engaged senior journalists and editors from leading media houses across the continent to improve the narrative on labour migration which has largely been reported in negative light rather than a catalyst for social economic development and Integration.
This initiative started last week during a three-day (5-7 August) workshop titled: “Shaping a Positive Narrative for African Labour Migration by Promoting Balanced and Authoritative Media Coverage”, held in Dakar, Senegal, by the AUC in coordination with the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), under the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP).
The JLMP, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments in 2015, aims to enhance governance of labour migration in Africa. It works through Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and AU Member States, with active participation from stakeholders such as civil society and the media.
Dr. Sabelo Mbokazi, Head of the Labour, Employment and Migration Division at the AUC, emphasized the challenges posed by reliance on Western media sources that often paint a skewed picture of Africa. “A significant challenge we face is that some media houses in Africa publish editorial content sourced from Western media, which often perpetuates a negative portrayal of our continent,” he stated.
“Ideally, this flow of information should be reversed, with Western media drawing from African sources to present a more balanced and accurate depiction of Africa,” he added.
During the workshop, senior editors and reporters from 35 media houses etablished a network aimed at improving editorial standards for covering labour migration in Africa. “Migration should not be turned into a source of hatred towards particular people, especially our fellow compatriots. To achieve this, journalists must prioritise human-centred stories, utilise verified data and engage with a diverse range of sources to present a comprehensive view of labour migration,” said Mr Omar Faruk Osman, President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ).
The newly formed network includes Ms. Jemima Jeanette Beukes (Namibia) as Chairperson representing Southern Africa, Mr. Mokhlis Brahim (Morocco) as 1st Deputy Chairperson representing North Africa, Ms. Aminata Sanou (Burkina Faso) as 2nd Deputy Chairperson representing West Africa, Mr. Hilaire Hamekoue (Cameroon) as 3rd Deputy Chairperson representing Central Africa, and Mr. Charles Erick Oduor (Kenya) as Rapporteur representing Eastern Africa.
This follows the Doha Declaration on Labour Mobility, a set of commitments by African Union Member States and GCC, Jordan, and Lebanon to solidify efforts for the ethical recruitment of African migrant workers and safeguard their rights. The need to deter disinformation and misinformation regarding recruitment and strategies for media involvement were key discussion points.
As a path forward, the participants endorsed the Dakar Communique, a joint commitment between the JLMP and the media. The communique underscores the need for comprehensive training programs, the development of ethical reporting guidelines specific to labour migration, gender-sensitive reporting, and measures to address barriers in migration reporting.
Data from the second edition of the Africa Migration Report reveals that nearly 85.5 percent of Africa’s employed population, including migrant workers, operates in the informal sector, underscoring the critical role of the media in providing these workers with the information they need to make informed decisions.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Innocent Vuga | Communication & Knowledge Management Officer – JLMP | Labour, Employment and Migration Division | African Union Commission | Email: VugaI@africa-union.org
Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org Web: au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
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