In the past five years, the Coalition For Women In Journalism’s (CFWIJ) Women Press Freedom (WPF) initiative has documented an alarming increase in attacks and threats against journalists living abroad, particularly in countries such as Canada, the United States, the UK, Australia, and throughout Europe.

These threats reflect a broader international issue affecting hundreds of journalists and activists who have challenged dictatorships and anti-democratic regimes worldwide. The ripple effects of this repression impact millions within diaspora communities residing in Western nations, including Canada, which has become a refuge for many.

Our research reveals that the same forces targeting women and LGBTQI+ journalists are also behind attacks on global human rights defenders, civil society members, and diaspora communities. Countries like Iran, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, along with others such as India, Pakistan, Turkiye, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, and Venezuela, are among the most egregious offenders.

In the last four years, the Women Press Freedom initiative has documented over a dozen cases of women journalists being targeted in Canada alone. We have closely monitored the various methods used by these nations to suppress dissent beyond their borders. This roundtable aims to bring together our partners to examine the threats of transnational repression within democratic states and seek investigative and policy-driven solutions.

The event will focus on Canada, featuring case studies from Europe and the United States, to deepen our understanding of this cross-border issue. Our goal is to foster a nuanced conversation with journalists, researchers, policymakers, government officials, and civil society members invested in the safety of journalists and activists living in democracies. Ultimately, we hope to recommend policies that can help address and end the problem of transnational repression.