International Day For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women

Gender-based violence is not part of the job, but unfortunately for women journalists, it is. The abuse they face online and in real life is inescapable and omnipresent. The culprits are numerous and in most cases act with impunity. They vary from high-profile politicians, government officials, government non-affiliated agents who act as sources, male employers and colleagues to list a few. Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on the international community to recognize the sexist and misogynistic violence against women journalists and take urgent action in ensuring their safety. 

The CFWIJ joins in on the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence annual campaign led by civil society and supported by the United Nations. This year's campaign theme “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls” calls for immediate attention to gender-based violence which persists in being the most prevalent human rights violation globally. 

Analogous to the phenomenon of violence against women and girls, the campaign aims to highlight crimes against women journalists, urges the safety of women journalists and cooperates with various partners in identifying and implementing solid practices in countering attacks against women journalists.

12

women journalists were murdered in 2022, as of November 25.

97

women journalists have been behind bars as of November 25, 2022.

49

organized troll campaigns carried out against women journalists.

Read #HerStory

Yalda Moaiery
Iran

On September 19, police detained photojournalist Yalda Moaiery covering anti-state protests in Tehran, sparked over Mahsa Amini’s death. She has been behind bars for 67 days.

Viktoria Roshchina
Ukraine

Viktoria was reported missing on March 16. None of her associates had knowledge about her location. She was released after spending 6 days in extrajudicial custody of Russian forces.

Maryam Rahmati
Iran/United States

Maryam Rahmati, correspondent for Iran International, was asked to leave a recent UN Human Rights Council meeting despite that Iran's state broadcaster was allowed to cover it.

Erica Ifill
Canada

Erica Ifill was targeted by nationalist right-wing rhetoric that has flooded Canada’s digital space in recent years. She was subjected to sexist online hate perpetuated by organized trolls.