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International call to protect women journalists
The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum, in conjunction with the FOJO Media Institute, has issued the 2nd December Declaration highlighting the need to strengthen and support free, independent and professional journalism as a means of countering disinformation and combatting hate crimes.
© Robert Owen-Wahl via Pixabay
It particularly calls on media worldwide to support stronger protections for women journalists in a text released to mark the 250th anniversary celebrations of Sweden’s ‘Freedom of the Press Act’, the first of its kind in the world.
Identifying women journalists as frequently the most vulnerable and exposed, the Declaration denounces as a danger to quality journalism - and ultimately democracy itself - those who use threats and hate to silence the women who are making their voices heard.
“Professional journalism is our most effective means of countering disinformation and combatting hate crimes. It is the best weapon we have against all types of prejudices,” reads the Declaration. “Journalists are on the frontline when it comes to protecting freedoms in society - and women journalists are often the most vulnerable and exposed. They are targeted, not only because they report on the abuse of power, but because they are women.”
At time of press, over 50 media organisations had pledged their advance support for the text. The Declaration coincides with an event in Stockholm on 2 December 2016 that will pay tribute to all women journalists who defy such dangers to pursue their mission of providing citizens “with the information needed to make enlightened decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies and their governments.”
Prominent women journalists including Barkha Dutt (India), Laura Castellanos (Mexico), Galina Timochenko (Russia/Latvia), Jessikka Aro (Finland), Anita Sarkeesian (Canada/US), Miranda Patrucić (Bosnia), Jamela Alindogan (Philippines), Fatuma Noor (Somalia) and Baria Alamuddin (Lebanon) will attend a seminar hosted by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Fojo Media Institute/Linnæus University, the Swedish Institute and the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO.
The seminar will draw upon the stories of the invited journalists as a point of departure on how to find strategies to counter hate speech, threats and disinformation. For more information, click here. Join the campaign at www.ProtectOurJournalists.org.
