The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of Switzerland, organized a seminar in Dakar from 12 to 14 June on: "The role of journalists and the media in preventing violence, including violent extremism in West Africa and the Sahel ".

This seminar followed up on the recommendations of the conference organized by UNOWAS in partnership with the International Peace Institute and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in Dakar on 27 and 28 June 2016, on "Investing in peace and preventing violence in West Africa and the Sahel: Conversations around the UN Secretary-General's Plan of Action", as well as the 2nd Regional Conference, which Held in N'Djamena from 31 May to 1 June 2017, both of which highlighted the important role that the media and journalists can play in the prevention of violence and violent extremism and in the raising of public awareness on peace and for the promotion of concrete and alternative initiatives to violence. The seminar also relied on initiatives already initiated by UNESCO to promote education in journalism and a culture of peace.

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