Initiated by the 2M group, a media conglomerate and promoted by Radio 2M, the 2^nd edition of the Forum of Women Journalists of Africa "Les Panafricaines" ended in Casablanca, Morocco, on Saturday 27^th October, 2018, after 3 days of meetings and rich debates that had more than 200 journalists from all 54 African countries. The participants exchanged on a capital theme: "African migration: a chance for the continent, a responsibility for the media".

“Les Panafricaines” began their forum on Thursday, October 25 with a visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where they met Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The meeting took place a few weeks before the adoption of the Global Compact on Migration at the UN Heads of State and Government Summit which will be held on the 10^th of December in Marrakech. Nasser Bourita highlighted the continental aspects of migration issues and the need for African countries to co-ordinate their actions: "Africa needs to have a lucid vision on these migration issues, and the primary responsibility lies within African countries themselves. Sub-regional and continental dialogue must take place. "

They also visited the International University Campus in Rabat, where they met Mohammed Methqal, Ambassador-Director of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI). The institution, which aims to be a major player in the implementation of the South-South cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco, was a valuable support for the event, as was the Moroccan National Tourism Office.

The official opening session of the Forum took place the following day, Friday, October 26, and was mainly dedicated to the issue of journalistic treatment of migration issues.

In his opening remarks, Salim Cheikh, Director General of 2M expressed his wish to see “a fairer, more equitable coverage of migration issues and that Africa's voice on this issue will be carried by us Africans."

Also attending the opening session, the head of Moroccan diplomacy, Nasser Bourita, encouraged “Les Panafricaines” to favor a "structured information that does not only communicate but mobilizes, [...] that does not only call for change, but provokes it, accompanies it, and sometimes even precedes it”.

The opening of the forum saw the organization of the Main Debate, held under the theme: "From one bank to another, for an objective look at migrants". Moderated by Samira Sitaïl, Deputy General Manager in charge of information and magazines at 2M, the debate tackled the distortion of the image of migrants, with a panel composed of:

• Ana Fonseca, head of the mission of the International Organization for Migration in Morocco.
• Raffaella Consentino (Italy), Reporter for the television channel "Rai", specializing in migration issues.
• Patrick Otim (Uganda), specialist in migration and a member of Refugee Law Project in Kampala.
• Driss El Yazami, President of the National Human Rights Council.
• Larry Macaulay (Nigeria), founder and editor-in-chief of the Refugee Radio Network in Hamburg, Germany.

Seven thematic workshops gave the journalists, along with migration experts, the opportunity to discuss the different aspects of migration on the continent. The topics discussed were:

• "What kind of journalistic treatment for migration issues?"
• "Wandering minors, identifying a complex phenomenon?"
• "Women's mobility: a new migratory dynamic"
• "Climate migration and food security"
• "Intra-African migration: a chance for development"
• "African migration: the importance of having reliable data"

On the second day of the Forum, the feedback session allowed the workshop leaders, with the support of the expert facilitators, to advocate for the theme they chose to champion.

The presentations, along with videos summarizing the workshops, made it possible to highlight the courses of action favored by the participants.

After listening to all presentations, “Les Panafricaines” proceeded to an electronic vote in order to determine the priorities of the 2018-2019 action plan. The election put women's migration at the top of the list for the year, with 22% of votes. The issue of coverage of migration issues was the second most popular theme (18%), followed, equally, by the importance of having reliable data and the theme of wandering minors, with 16% of votes. The theme of climate migration retained 14% of votes, followed by the issue of intra-African migration (13%).

With the priorities for action defined, the presentation of the seventh and last workshop, devoted to the structures and organizational model of the network “Les Panafricaines”, explained the operating system that will be adopted by the network of African women journalists. The organization’s new structure will contribute to the network members’ capacity building.

A monitoring committee, a steering committee as well as a Council of Elders will steer the action of “Les Panafricaines”. The new structure set up during this 2^nd edition will ensure the sustainability of the organization’s action. The network, which has grown steadily since its inception, hopes to include more media and journalists, notably through a sponsorship system.

The successful second edition of the Africa Women Journalists Forum ended on a note of hope and ambition. The effervescence created by the participants during these three days already reflects the spirit of solidarity and co-operation that characterizes African women journalists.