New Delhi: Marking the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women, today, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) expresses grave concern over global rise of extremism posing an unprecedented threat to rights and safety of women journalists. Additionally, violence against women on online platforms is a serious and rapidly growing threat that seeks to silence the voices of many women—especially those with a strong public and digital presence in fields such as politics, activism, or journalism, warns United Nations.
The IJU joins its partner, International Federation of Journalists, in cautioning against rising extremist movements fuelling targeted attacks against women journalists, particularly through online abuse, harassment, violence and coordinated disinformation campaigns.
Examples are many: In Afghanistan, the Taliban authorities have systematically restricted women’s education and employment, and many women journalists have had to leave the profession. A survey found 87% of women journalists have experienced gender discrimination during the Taliban regime and 60% of have lost their jobs and careers. In some European countries, far-right political parties have promoted policies undermining reproductive rights and gender equality. The Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d’Italia), led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has pushed pro-natalist policies and opposed what it calls a “gender ideology”. In Spain, Vox started a smear campaign against Spanish journalist Cristina Fallarás, following her comments about the party being fascist and racist.
In Argentina, President Javier Milei’s right-wing supporters are targeting journalists and women’s rights activists. They have to deal with a wave of threats against them. In Somalia, a report shows how political and security context exacerbates attacks against women journalists. Terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab and ISIS, as well as extremist religious groups, threaten and attack women journalists to silence them.
The IFJ Gender Council has called for stronger legislation to protect women’s rights, better protection for journalists reporting on extremist groups, and firm public condemnation of all forms of extremism targeting women and media. Noting that digital violence is real violence and that There is #NoExcuse for online abuse, the UN has launched UNiTE campaign (Nov 25- Dec 10) — an initiative of 16 days of activism concluding on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day (10 December).
The IJU urges its members and Gender Councils across the country to join the campaign
and raise their voice against violence against women journalists, through extremism and online technology, wherein digital tools are increasingly being used to stalk, harass, and abuse women journalists. The IJU demands that Governments create safe digital spaces free of trolls, doxing and hate speech.
