Women journalists at higher risk of online hate, abuse

Day to end impunity for crimes against journalists commemorated

ISLAMABAD:

With the gender-based violence growing in the online world as well, women, especially women journalists are facing substantial risks and hurdles in the form of hateful speech, incitement, cyber harassment and violence.

“It is necessary to recognize that if women’s voices are silenced, half of Pakistan is silenced,” said Patricia McPhillips, the country representative and director for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) while welcoming participants to an event to commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for All Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI).

The event was held under UNESCO’s Multi-Donor Program on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists in collaboration with the European Union Delegation in Pakistan, the embassies of Sweden, Netherlands, and the High Commission of Canada.

This year’s IDEI in Pakistan focused on challenges faced by the women journalists and media workers given that earlier in the year women journalists, bloggers, media workers and human rights activists had issued a statement highlighting the abuse and harassment faced by them on different online platforms.

McPhillips said that the increasing gender-based violence on online platforms is not a women’s issue alone, or an issue for people who are transgender or digital activists, journalists and bloggers, alone, but an issue central to protecting democratic values.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2020.