Fondation Hirondelle took part in the African Women in Media (AWiM) conference, held in Addis Ababa on 4 and 5 December, by hosting a panel entitled “Resilient Voices: Sahel and South African Women in Media.” The discussion highlighted the challenges faced by women journalists working in environments marked by insecurity and restricted access to information, as well as their essential role in producing reliable, inclusive journalism that responds to the needs of local communities.
The panel brought together Caroline Vuillemin, General Director of Fondation Hirondelle, Dr. Emma Heywood, Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Radio and Communication, Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes at the University of Sheffield, and a long-standing research partner who has collaborated on Sahel-focused studies, and Mamaponya Motsai, CEO of Fray College, a pan-African feminist organisation specialising in communication and journalism training.
The discussion also focused on the Kigali Declaration, launched in 2023 during the African Women in Media (AWiM) conference in Kigali. This collective commitment, set for 2034 and endorsed by African media organisations and journalists, aims to prevent and combat gender-based violence in and through the media. Through collective action, its objective is to create safe, ethical, and inclusive media environments that uphold respect and integrity.
A shared conclusion emerged: there is an urgent need to implement this action plan. It establishes a minimum standard for all stakeholders and has a tangible impact on how media organisations address issues affecting African women, particularly the way gender-based violence is portrayed and covered in the media.
Through its projects, Fondation Hirondelle continues to support women journalists and media outlets that promote inclusivity and the participation of all.