As part of the ACCEL Africa project, the ILO organized the “Voices against Child Labour” training in Mali to strengthen journalists’ capacity to cover child labour in an ethical, accurate and impact-oriented way. Focused on the realities of artisanal gold mining and cotton, the training enabled participants to better understand the issues, identify relevant reporting angles and produce media content that contributes to awareness-raising and action against child labour.
As part of the ACCEL Africa project, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the International Labour Organization (ILO) organized a training session for Malian journalists and media professionals to strengthen their capacity to cover child labour in an ethical, accurate and impact-oriented way.
Entitled “Voices against Child Labour”, the training is part of the project’s efforts to document and communicate relevant information on child labour in supply chains in Africa. In Mali, ACCEL Africa works in particular in the artisanal gold mining and cotton supply chains, two sectors where vulnerabilities related to child labour persist.
The training also addressed national and international policy frameworks, as well as the role of the media in raising public awareness and supporting policy dialogue.
The activity placed particular emphasis on ethical journalism and the protection of children in media content. Journalists exchanged on informed consent, children’s dignity, the risks of stigmatization, and the precautions to take when reporting in sensitive contexts, particularly mining sites and high-risk areas.
Beyond the technical sessions, the training adopted a practical approach. Participants worked on identifying reporting angles related to child labour in gold and cotton, interpreting data and reports, fact-checking, storytelling, producing content for social media, videography, and developing podcast concepts.
By strengthening journalists’ skills, the initiative aims to encourage more regular, responsible and nuanced media coverage of child labour. It also contributes to the creation of a network of media professionals committed to better informing the public, giving visibility to the realities experienced by communities, and supporting national efforts to eliminate child labour.
This activity contributes directly to the objectives of the ACCEL Africa project, particularly in the areas of knowledge sharing and communication, by helping the media transform data, testimonies and realities from the field into stories capable of mobilizing attention, understanding and action.
