Transforming media narratives: Ethical coverage and strategic engagement on femicide
Joint African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) – RAI Italia Workshop
Date: 15–16 December 2025, online
Theme: “From words to action: Strengthening media impact in the prevention of femicide”
Concept Note
Femicide — the intentional killing of women because of their gender — is a growing crisis in Africa, where some of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world are recorded. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Africa and Asia account for the largest number of femicide cases globally, with an estimated 20,000 women killed on the African continent in 2022 alone.
South Africa has one of the highest femicide rates in the world, at 12.1 murders per 100,000 women, nearly five times the global average. In Nigeria, more than 21,000 cases were reported in 2023, often involving intimate-partner violence. Kenya has also recorded an alarming increase, with at least 500 women killed in gender-related attacks in 2022. Other countries are heavily affected, including Zambia, where close to 50% of female homicides are linked to intimate-partner violence, and Uganda, where 56% of women killed in 2021 were victims of domestic violence.
Weak legal frameworks and inadequate enforcement worsen the crisis in many African countries. Gaps in investigations, low conviction rates and delays in judicial systems contribute to persistent impunity. These shortcomings underline the urgent need for media coverage that highlights not only individual tragedies but also the systemic failures that allow femicide to continue.
The impact of femicide extends far beyond the immediate loss of life. Survivors of violence often face long-term physical and psychological trauma. In Kenya, pressure on health services is visible through the high number of women requiring treatment for injuries linked to domestic violence. This public-health burden, combined with stigma surrounding mental health, makes it essential for media narratives to address the broader consequences of femicide for health and well-being.
Security forces in many African countries often lack the equipment, resources or training needed to respond effectively to gender-based violence. In Zambia, limited resources and training have constrained community-security initiatives. Media scrutiny of such gaps can play a critical role in advocating for better protection measures and stronger security protocols.
Deeply rooted cultural norms and patriarchal traditions also contribute significantly to femicide. In some contexts, the normalisation of violence creates environments in which such crimes are minimised or excused. Sensational media coverage can obscure these structural and sociocultural factors. A more nuanced, ethical and contextual approach is therefore essential to promoting respect and equality.
Political instability and weak governance can further aggravate the crisis. Political leaders have often been slow to implement reforms, while patriarchal attitudes within institutions can undermine policy responses. Responsible journalism that examines political accountability can help drive reforms and stronger protections.
The economic costs of femicide are often underestimated: lost productivity, increased healthcare costs and long-term financial consequences for families. Women’s economic dependence on men can also deepen vulnerability. Media coverage that integrates economic analysis can show how gender-based violence obstructs development.
Despite the scale of the crisis, media coverage is still frequently fragmented, superficial or sensationalist. Incidents are often treated as short-lived news items without the social, legal, political and economic context needed to understand them. Ethical, responsible and informed journalism has a central role to play in reshaping public debate and supporting meaningful policy responses.
Focus
The workshop aims to equip journalists with the skills, ethical frameworks and strategic perspectives needed to produce in-depth, accurate and impactful reporting on femicide and violence against women. By promoting responsible journalism, the workshop seeks to transform media narratives, challenge harmful norms and contribute to policy and social change across Africa.
Workshop objectives
Critically analyse current media coverage of femicide in Africa and identify gaps and systemic issues.
Strengthen journalistic capacity through training in investigative reporting, ethical storytelling and trauma-informed journalism.
Explore international best practices and discuss their relevance to African contexts.
Develop strategic recommendations to guide AUB member organisations in improving editorial policies and reporting on femicide and gender-based violence.
Promote cross-border collaboration among African journalists to encourage sustained dialogue, knowledge-sharing and joint projects.
Encourage impactful, human-centred investigative reporting that informs audiences and influences public debate and policy.
Expected results
Improved reporting quality, with fuller treatment of the legal, health, security, sociocultural, political and economic dimensions of femicide.
Greater policy influence through nuanced and evidence-based media narratives.
Stronger professional capacity and a sustainable network of journalists committed to ethical gender-sensitive reporting.
Institutional change through the integration of recommendations and best practices into newsroom protocols.
Greater public understanding of the multidimensional impact of femicide and stronger social and policy responses to violence against women.
Target audience
The workshop will bring together radio and television journalists from AUB member organisations across Africa, including editors, senior producers, investigative journalists, reporters specialising in gender, health, security and human rights, media policymakers and regulators, and representatives of civil-society organisations working on women’s rights and gender-based violence.
Conclusion
Femicide and violence against women are multidimensional crises requiring comprehensive responses. In Africa, legal gaps, health crises, security vulnerabilities, entrenched cultural norms, political inertia and economic challenges often overlap. A transformative approach to media reporting is therefore urgent.
This workshop gives African broadcast journalists an opportunity not only to strengthen professional skills but also to become catalysts for social change. Through ethical and investigative journalism, media can help reshape narratives so femicide is understood not merely as a tragic statistic, but as a preventable injustice requiring systemic reform and collective commitment to protect women’s rights.
The African Union of Broadcasting is committed to leading this change and supporting a media environment that promotes justice, accountability and human dignity.
