October 28, 2024 - Kolkata, India

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the sexual harassment faced by Kolkata-based journalist Sangita Ghorai at the hands of Tanmoy Bhattacharya, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) politician, during an interview. Journalist shared the ordeal in a video on Facebook on October 27.

Bhattacharya invaded Ghorai’s personal space, shockingly sitting on her lap, leaving her shaken and struggling to process the distressing encounter. This behavior is an unacceptable breach of both personal and professional boundaries, demanding immediate accountability. Political parties have a responsibility to promote respect and ensure that their representatives uphold these values.

While Bhattacharya has reportedly been suspended, a mere suspension is insufficient. We call for stricter action against him. It is imperative to ensure safe working conditions for women journalists in India, where incidents of sexual harassment remain widespread.

Women Press Freedom has documented at least 68 cases of sexual harassment against women journalists globally over the past five years, with the U.S. recording the highest number, followed closely by India, Colombia, the UK, Malaysia, and others. Between January 2019 and August 2024, at least 12 Indian journalists reported 13 incidents of sexual harassment, with three occurring this year alone.