WUNRN
Violence
Against Female Journalists Increases
Editor: Sophia Zhu - January 2, 2014
According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), a major
organization representing journalists from 134 countries, 108 reporters and
journalists were killed in 2013 around the world. The Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ) further pointed out Syria is the most dangerous area for
journalists.
Violence against female journalists is also increasing. Six female journalists
were killed, and many became victims of sexual violence and intimidation.
From a regional perspective, the Asia Pacific region is the most unsafe area
for journalists, with 29 percent of the total deaths occurring in this region,
and the Middle East and Arabia accounting for 27 percent. Syria was the most
dangerous country with 15 journalists killed, followed by Iraq with 13 people
killed. There were also several deaths in Pakistan, the Philippines, India,
Egypt and Somalia.
Although the total number of journalists killed has dropped by 10 percent since
2012, the IFJ insists governments still needed to make far greater efforts
"to prevent media workers from being killed".
(Source: people.com.cn/Translated and edited by womenofchina.cn)
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The
International Federation of Journalists is the world's largest organisation of
journalists. Today the Federation represents around 600.000 members in more
than 100 countries. The IFJ promotes international action to defend press
freedom and social justice through strong, free and independent trade unions of
journalists.
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AFGHANISTAN JOURNALISTS SAFETY
COMMITTEE
REPORT: FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 2013
The
report takes special aim at the problem facing women journalists in
Afghanistan, many of whom are leaving the profession because of threats to
their families.
Direct Link to Full 20-Page 2013
Report:
Female Journalists
Female journalists are
highly vulnerable and are facing a variety of problems from low professional
knowledge and experience to sexual harassment in the workplace.
Female journalists are the
first group to diminish their presence in media sector especially in provinces
as concerns over the future of the country continue to arise.
Sexual harassment by the
supervisors is a prominent challenge ahead of the continuation of the work of
women in the media. In some cases, supervisors purposefully restrict the
workspace on the targeted female employee to the extent that she gets compelled
to submit to the illegitimate demands of her supervisor. In such circumstances,
if the subject resists to give in, she will be fired from work. Moreover,
female journalists are not as well educated and experienced as their male
peers, which makes them more vulnerable to losing their job as a result of the
increasing financial challenges of the media outlets.
Cultural constraints is yet
another obstacle adding to the array of problems and serving as the reason for
violence against female journalists in many instances. Cultural constraint has
also been responsible for female media workers to restrict their work inside
the office and refrain from going out to the field for reporting.