As part of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, UN Women Senegal and REMAPSEN launched a two-day workshop this Tuesday. The initiative targets journalists, bloggers, influencers, and content creators, with the aim of improving media coverage of violence against women and online violence.

According to Fanta Sow Ndiaye, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation Program Officer at UN Women Senegal, media narratives strongly influence social representations. She emphasized the impact of words: "The media shapes our imaginations. A word can minimize, a headline can stigmatize, an image can render invisible," calling for a profound transformation of professional practices.

Violence against women is constantly evolving, now encompassing physical, psychological, economic, and sexual domains, and, rapidly expanding, the digital realm (cyberbullying, dissemination of sexist content, non-consensual publication of private information, hate campaigns). While technology can be a source of empowerment, it sometimes becomes a weapon.

UN Women points out that traditional media as well as digital platforms are major opinion leaders, and their way of reporting on violence directly influences public perception and the construction of stereotypes.

The workshop aims to strengthen participants' capacity to produce gender-sensitive, fair, and non-stigmatizing content. Participants are invited to analyze problematic titles and images, identify invisible biases, understand the mechanisms of online violence, and co-create new narratives that value women's rights and dignity.

This workshop follows the official launch of the campaign in Gorée, presided over by the Minister of Family, Social Action and Solidarity, and focused on combating online violence. UN Women hopes that this training will contribute to a lasting shift in media narratives, strengthen the fight against violence, and promote a more egalitarian society.