Guinea-Bissau: CFWIJ Raises Concerns Over Prevalence Of Sexual Harassment In Newsrooms Across The Country

Location: Guinea-Bissau
Date: March 20, 2023

Photo Credit: Carmen ABD ALI/AFP via Getty Images

Women media professionals in Guinea-Bissau face numerous hindrances in the course of their work. A study conducted by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) revealed the prevalence of sexual harassment. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is deeply concerned for the safety and overall well-being of women journalists in Guinea-Bissau. We demand immediate action is taken to ensure women journalists in the country feel safe while on the job.  

There are multiple challenges women journalists face in the course of their careers. These challenges are cultural, social and economic. These challenges highlight problems related to sexual harassment, lack of opportunities for professional growth and discrimination from theiir male counterparts. 

A study conducted by MFWA aimed at describing and understanding the security situation of women journalists in Guinea-Bissau exposed how lack of safety in newsrooms across the country is detrimental to women journalists' mental and physical well-being.

One of the most arresting discoveries concerns the prevalence of sexual harassment, a behaviour considered criminal in Guinea-Bissau. According to the disclosures of the participants in the study, women journalists cope with the persistent harassment with extreme restraint and silent pain.

Unfortunately, such illegal acts are consigned to secondary activities or simply discounted. As a result they cause psychological weariness and as a consequence personal insecurity and lack of self-esteem.

Another major problem identified regards male dominance in the leadership of the media. One of the concrete examples is in the public media organs of Guinea-Bissau. There are a total of four media organs in which all the managers are men, which highlights clear male domination. The situation is no different in the private media sector. Out of eleven private radio stations, only three are led by women.

Based on this data, it comes as no surprise why women journalists face complex challenges in their daily working lives. Male bosses simply cannot truly appreciate the peculiar concerns of women.

It is of utmost importance that a civic education campaign is put into immediate effect in the newsrooms across Guinea-Bissau. In addition, promotion of thematic debates to discuss and clarify these problems in order to establish equity and gender equality in the media sector must be implemented. 

It is also crucial that women journalists are trained in issues related to their security in the field of reporting. In fact, it is considered healthy to train women on how to deal with the multiple risks they could face inside and outside the newsrooms. Training women journalists on how to report cases of abuses against them, especially sexual harassment must be considered compulsory. 

Legislations must be drafted and enacted to promote a safe online space where verbal attacks and insults on social networks are dealt with swiftly. 

Women journalists are vital in the media. Their voices matter and must be heard. It is sensible to provide them with a safe space in which they can thrive and continue to do their jobs without fear and terror. The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with all women journalists in Guinea-Bissau. We urge authorities to stop stalling and take immediate measures towards ensuring the safety of women journalists.  

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.