(Dakar, Senegal: 7 Aug., 2024)–Senior news editors and reporters from over 35 media houses across different African countries have met and established a network to coordinate and improve standards of coverage of labour migration in Africa.
The Network was created during a Capacity-Building Workshop for Journalists and Editors on Building a Positive Narrative on Labour Migration Governance in Africa. The workshop was organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) under the continental Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP).
Labour migration requires coordinated efforts from governments, international organizations, employers, workers, and civil society groups. It presents challenges such as ensuring fair recruitment and protecting and safeguarding workers’ rights. Journalists have highlighted the need for their active involvement in addressing these issues.
“It is incumbent upon us to be at the forefront in telling the story of Africa and Africans,” said Mr. Omar Faruk Osman, President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ).
The editors, and other participants emphasized the key role of migration in Africa’s socio-economic landscape, recognizing its complexities and the necessity for balanced media coverage. They acknowledged that while irregular migration flows often capture media attention, they represent only a small part of African migration realities and sometimes paint a wrong picture of the continent.
“One 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. 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,” said Dr. Sabelo Mbokazi, Head of the African Union’s Division of Labour, Employment, and Migration.
The workshop also issued a communique as a set of joint commitments with the AUC through the Joint Labour Migration Programme and journalists, highlighting the need for comprehensive training programmes, formulation of ethical reporting guidelines specific to labour migration, gender-sensitive reporting, and more.
According to data from the second edition of the Africa Migration Report, nearly 85.5 percent of Africa’s employed population – including migrant workers – works in the informal sector, creating a need to tell stories from a humanistic point of view to capture migrant experiences accurately. Africa currently has the fastest-growing youth population, with over 400 million people aged between 15 and 35. Their employment search often leads to migration, where the media can help them make informed choices.
This initiative 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 for public information and media involvement was a key discussion point.
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
