Journalist Thin Thin Aung was abducted by the state on April 8, and is currently in state custody. Following her detention, the state forces raided her home, seized her belongings, and destroyed all her journalistic work. The state of journalists in Myanmar remains precarious and requires urgent international attention.

In the latest development of the defamation case against Vicky Dávila, the Labor Cassation Chamber of the Colombian Supreme Court has reversed the journalist’s once-successful appeal. The Supreme Court upheld the previous ruling of the appellate court on October 15, 2020, which ordered the journalist to pay over $43,421 in damages to the family of a police colonel. Vicky reported on the corrupt practices of the police colonel, which led to his termination. According to the journalist, the latest decision against her will be reviewed by the constitutional court. CFWIJ is concerned by the judicial harassment of Vicky and considers it a dangerous precedent for the press in the country. The Columbian judiciary must respect the principles of press freedom and end the defamation case against Vicky Dávila.

Daria Komarova, a freelance journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) regional news outlet, Idel.Realii, was detained by police on January 23 for covering protests in support of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. Daria faces three separate trials for her coverage of the pro-Navalny protests. On April 7, the Leninsky district court held the first arraignment against the journalist for her alleged participation in an opposition rally on August 29, 2020, though the judge postponed the hearing until April 16. CFWIJ demands Russian judicial authorities drop the baseless charges against Daria. As a journalist, she performed her duty while covering the protests, and this should not be considered an act against the state.

An unnamed woman journalist was impeded at work while on assignment at the Palace of Justice. She was barred from entering the building under COVID-19 restrictions. The journalist was aware of the precautionary measures and had planned to report on the case hearing outside. She shared it happened the first time when a court president denied her entry. The journalist believes she was denied access because the court was conducting a trial on a sensitive case involving a priest accused of sexual violence. CFWIJ is dismayed by the official orders as the matter was of public interest, and the journalist must report the case.

Demokrat Haber editörü Selda Manduz’un “silahlı terör örgütüne üye olmak” suçlamasıyla yargılandığı davanın üçüncü duruşması bugün görüldü. Mahkeme de dava savcısı da gazetecinin beraatına hükmetti. Manduz mahkeme kararıyla bütün suçlamalardan beraat etti. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) olarak kararı memnuniyetle karşılıyoruz. Kararın gazeteciliğin suç olmadığını kanıtlar nitelikle olduğuna inanıyoruz. Aynı kararın yargılanan tüm gazeteciler için emsal olmasını talep ediyoruz.

The third hearing of the trial against Democrat-News editor Selda Manduz on the charge of being affiliated with an armed terrorist organization was held today. The court ruled the journalist’s acquittal. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) welcomes the decision. We find the verdict proved that journalism is not a crime. We demand the same decision to set a precedent for all journalists on trial.

Dört gündür gözaltında tutulan Jin news muhabiri Beritan Canözer, serbest bırakıldı. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) olarak haberi memnuniyetle karşılıyor ancak Türk yetkililerden gazetecilere uyguladıkları baskıya son vermelerini talep ediyoruz.

Jin News reporter Beritan Canözer was released after four-day detention. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) welcomes the journalist’s release. We urge the Turkish authorities to end state oppression against the journalists. We reiterate once again that journalism is not a crime.

5 Nisan sabahı evine baskın yapılarak gözaltına alınan Jin News muhabiri Beritan Canözer’e kötü muameleye maruz kalıyor. Gazeteci Canözer ve gözaltında tutulan 21 kadın polis tarafından tehdit edildi. Temel ihtiyaçlarının karşılanmasına dair büyük sorunlar yaşadığı öğrenildi. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) olarak söz konusu insanlık dışı muameleleri kınıyor, meslektaşımız Beritan Canözer’in derhal serbest bırakılmasını talep ediyoruz.

Jin News reporter Beritan Canözer, who remains under custody since April 5, is being threatened and mistreated. The journalist and 21 women, who are being detained, were threatened by the police. Reportedly, detainees had also great problems reaching their basic needs. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns these inhumane treatments and demands the immediate release of our colleague Beritan Canözer.

During sexual assault awareness month, CFWIJ shares the pain of women journalists who are survivors of sexual harassment and assault.

A letter containing a suspicious powder was sent to Sarolta Gálfi, the editor-in-chief of the city newspaper in Szentendre, Hungary. A threatening letter had also been sent to the journalist by an unidentified individual a week before the incident. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is devastated by the death threats the journalist faced. We demand Hungarian authorities to conduct a swift investigation into the vicious attack, identify the perpetrator and ensure Sarolta’s safety.

Samantha Maiden, a Walkley award-winning author and political editor for news.com.au, was bullied in an article written by Aaron Patrick, a senior correspondent at the Australian Financial Review (AFR). After digging into her childhood and work history, Aaron described Samantha as “difficult, challenging, and spiky”. Samantha Maiden is the journalist who revealed the ground-breaking story of Brittany Higgins, the young staffer who was raped in the Australian Parliament on March 23, 2019. Samantha wrote a detailed report on how Brittany’s vulnerable situation was mishandled with insensitivity and indifference by Liberal Party officials. In his article, Aaron Patrick criticized seasoned women journalists and accused them of instigating anger directed at the government. CFWIJ is troubled by Aaron Patrick’s senseless allegations and the Australian Financial Review’s facilitation of such blatant bullying. We demand that Aaron Patrick issues a public apology, and The Australian Financial Review clears its position of what it considers fair journalism.

Gazeteci Melis Alphan'a, 2015 Diyarbakır’da düzenlenen Newroz etkinliğinden sosyal medyada paylaştığı fotoğraf nedeniyle "örgüt propagandası yapmak" suçlamasıyla açılan davanın ilk duruşması bugün İstanbul’da görüldü. Mahkeme, bir sonraki duruşmayı 21 Mayıs 2021 tarihine erteledi. Gazetecilikte Kadın Koalisyonu (CFWIJ) olarak gazeteciye açılan bu haksız davayı kınıyoruz. Melis Alphan’ın derhal beraatını talep ediyoruz.

The first hearing of the trial against journalist Melis Alphan on the charge of "spreading terrorist propaganda" was held today in Istanbul. The court postponed the next hearing to 21 May 2021. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns this unjust case against the journalist. We demand Melis’s acquittal immediately.