International Women’s Day 2023

On this International Women's Day, the CFWIJ (Coalition For Women In Journalism) celebrates the accomplishments and positive contributions of women journalists. This recognition is particularly significant given the daily challenges and obstacles that women journalists face in the workplace. The campaign aims to inspire future generations of women journalists, promote equality, recognition, and justice.

As part of this effort, CFWIJ has compiled a report that covers the challenges women journalists faced this year and the risks they took to carry out their duties. The report highlights how women journalists faced numerous obstacles this year, including censorship, online harassment, intimidation, and violence. Despite these challenges, these journalists have continued to uphold the standards of the profession and persist in their pursuit of the truth.

It is important to recognize the tremendous contribution of women journalists, who often risk their lives to report on important issues and hold those in power accountable. In many parts of the world, women journalists face even greater challenges, including discrimination, harassment, and even physical violence. Our campaign aims to highlight these challenges and inspire others to support women journalists in their important work.

In addition to the report, CFWIJ has launched a campaign with the hashtag #journohero, highlighting the work of women journalists who have taken great risks to expose the powerful. This campaign celebrates the contributions of women journalists who have shown great courage and dedication to their work. Through this campaign, CFWIJ hopes to inspire and encourage women journalists around the world to continue pursuing the truth and reporting on important issues.

Read our report >>
#JournoHero campaign >>

#JournoHero — We celebrate contributions of women journalists

This campaign is inspired by the #JournoHero campaign first started by the IWMF. CFWIJ first joined IWMF’s #journohero campaign to recognize courageous women journalists in 2019. This International Women’s Day, we join the campaign to honor the vital work of women and non-binary journalists worldwide who continue to inspire us with their reporting.

Despite facing threats of violence and censorship, these journalists persist in amplifying the voices of the marginalized and bringing to light stories that might otherwise remain in the shadows. We celebrate a select number of these journalistic heroes and their unending commitment to speaking truth to power.

Through their work, often at great personal risk, these women and non-binary journalists exemplify the very best of the journalistic principles of truth, accuracy, independence, fairness, humanity, and accountability. They push back against misinformation and work to create a more just and equitable world through the simple act of reporting the facts. CFWIJ is in awe of their bravery, determination, and resolve in the face of adversity. We appreciate their efforts to give a voice to the most censored stories and shine a light on injustice, and we stand in solidarity with them.

The Perils of Truth-Telling: Women Journalists on the Frontlines

Women journalists around the world confront enormous difficulties and dangers in their pursuit of the truth. From natural disasters to political protests to extremist groups, women journalists have endured police harassment, imprisonment, threats, and vicious online abuse for exposing the truth and speaking truth to power.

This sobering report highlights the harrowing experiences of courageous women journalists in Turkey, Iran, and elsewhere who have risked their lives and liberty to report the news. In Turkey, women journalists struggled against hostile police forces as they covered the destruction wrought by a devastating earthquake. In Iran, dozens of women journalists were unjustly jailed simply for reporting on protests against the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody. Those reporting on far-right groups and refugee issues also faced malicious online harassment and threats of violence.

Despite the immense risks and threats, these women journalists have demonstrated tremendous courage and determination in continuing their vital and necessary work. The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls for the immediate release of all imprisoned journalists and demands an end to the attacks against the free press. The perils these women face highlight the critical importance of their truth-telling in a world that too often seeks to silence them. Their stories stand as an inspiration and call us to defend the right of all journalists everywhere to report the truth without fear.

Women journalists report on earthquake devastation despite difficulties

When huge earthquakes hit near the Turkish-Syrian border in early February 2023, the devastation was terrifying. Journalists reporting on victims and the aftermath were frequently hindered from investigating. CFWIJ recorded 16 incidences where women journalists were detained, denied entry, or slapped with legal charges while covering the earthquake. Journalists faced intimidation from law enforcement but also from members of the public. Their reporting on the destruction of earthquakes is vital for understanding the extent of the damage. We commend their determination to document the destruction and share stories of victims despite attempts to hinder them. 

Ceren İskit, a Turkish journalist working with a foreign press team, told CFWIJ, “conditions were very difficult in the earthquake zone”. She and her team encountered police officers that were hostile to journalists. She was threatened while reporting on a temporary morgue in a sports center in Maras. “Police did not allow us to film and literally threatened me,” İskit said. “When I showed my temporary accreditation card, he said ‘leave here, you are manipulating things.’”

Journalist Gülbahar Altaş explained to CFWIJ that while filming debris in the Ofis neighborhood of Diyarbakır on February 9th, police officers deleted the footage she had captured, and took the memory card from her camera.

"I took a few photos and a video of the debris site. Shortly afterward, two police officers approached me. One of them asked which organization I worked for and if I had accreditation. I showed them my press card that was given by the media organization I work for. It indicates that I work for the local media, but they said they don't recognize it. They took my camera from me and said that it was forbidden for me to be in the area. First, they deleted the photos I took at the debris site. Then, they took a photo of my press card. When I said, 'What do you think you're doing? You don't have the right to delete my photos,' they took the memory card from my camera.”

Arzu Efeoğlu said that while she was reporting with her team in Gaziantep, several citizens tried to attack them and asked for their ID cards. Arzu was interviewing earthquake victims and filming the wreckage when several citizens suddenly lashed out, insulted them, and asked for their identification. Concerned for their safety, Arzu and her team did not show their IDs and explained the situation to security guards. She did not feel safe due to the public's reaction and reported it to police and the Gaziantep Regional Directorate of Communications. Commenting on Twitter, Arzu called for the targeting of the press to end as, “propaganda against the foreign press is now putting our lives in danger.”

Gülbahar Altaş was also targeted by local people. Speaking to CFWIJ, Altaş said that on the evening of February 12, an argument broke out among people staying in tents in Diyarbakır Sümer Park. Two groups of people started to fight. "While I was trying to film what was happening there, people walked up to me and tried to attack. They told me not to film. Thanks to my cameraman friend and other citizens who were there, I survived the attack. The police came to help and intervened," Altaş said.

Iranian women  journalists imprisoned and arrested for covering protests

Today marks the 173rd day since protests erupted all across Iran over Mahsa Amini’s death under police custody on September 16, 2022. The Iranian regime has since arrested at least 38 women journalists, bringing the total number of incarcerated women journalists to 37 currently.  Iran is actually the top-jailer of women journalists. While there have been at least 15 releases, the Islamic regime shows no signs of ceasing its oppression of women journalists inside and outside the country. The CFWIJ is deeply concerned about the well-being of the imprisoned women journalists who suffer deteriorating health conditions in prison. Journalists who are released on bail face steep legal fees, and the legal process takes too long. These censorship tactics keep journalists from focusing on their work and keeping the public informed.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Iranian women journalists reporting on the current state of affairs inside and outside the country. We vehemently denounce all tactics of intimidation and censorship used by the Iranian government towards free media. Any attack on journalists is an attack on democracy. Journalism is not a crime. We condemn all illegally detentions and demand the immediate release of all imprisoned journalists. 

Niloofar Hamedi, a journalist with Tehran-based semi-reformist Shargh Daily, was arrested from her home on September 21, 2022. She was the first to report on Mahsa's hospitalization. A tweet posted by her lawyer, Mohammad-Ali Kamfirouzi, confirmed that she was being held in solitary confinement and was interrogated in Tehran’s Evin prison. As of yet, the journalist has not been informed of the charges, if any, against her. On October 30, 2022, Hamedi was accused by the Iranian government of having ties with the CIA. The Islamic Republic has classified Hamedi as a foreign agent and incriminated her as being a “primary source of news for foreign media”. Hamedi is currently being held captive in Evin prison. 88 days after Hamedi’s detention her husband Mohammad Hossein Ajorloo was finally able to enter the Evin prosecutor’s office and talk to the prosecutor. They conveyed to him that Niloofar was transferred to Qarchak prison. Niloofar Hamedi’s future is in complete uncertainty.

Elahe Mohammadi, a reporter with state-run Hammihan Daily, was arrested on September 22, 2022. Mohammadi is incarcerated in Evin prison due to accusations by the Islamic Republic and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) for being trained as a foreign agent along with Niloofar Hamedi. 

Vida Rabbani, a political commentator, was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison and banned from practicing journalism. 

Mehrnoosh Tafian, a freelance political reporter, was arrested on October 5, 2022, from the southwestern city of Ahvaz, in the majority Arab province of Khuzestan, according to IranWire. On January 5, 2023, Tafian was sentenced to one year in prison and banned from leaving the country for two years. 

Nazila Maroufian, a reporter of Rouydad 24 and former reporter of Didban Iran was arrested on October 30, 2022, from a friend’s home and taken into custody. She was immediately transferred to the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence known as Ward 209 at the infamous Evin Prison. There is no information on the reasons for her arrest and charges yet. Nazila was the first journalist to interview Amjad, the father of murdered Mahsa Amini, on October 19. This young journalist suffered a great deal of mental pressure and mental torture in prison and under interrogation. She was held in solitary confinement or cells with a small number of prisoners. On the day before the trial, she fainted and had a heart attack. Maroufian was then transferred to Muftah hospital in Shahreri. She was returned to Qarchak prison, even though the tests run on the conditions of her health were not completed. Maroufian has been temporarily released from Qarchak prison after 72 days of detention, with a bail of 600 million tomans. On January 9, Maroufian was temporarily released from Qarchak prison after 72 days of detention, with a bail of 600 million tomans. On January 28, the Kurdish journalist was sentenced to two years in prison, a fine of 15 million Tomans and a five-year ban on leaving Iran.

On January 22, 2023, it was reported that writer and journalist, Saeedah Shafiei was arrested by the security forces in her personal home in Tehran and taken to an unknown place. There is no information about the reasons for her arrest and the arresting body.  On the same day authorities in the Islamic Republic detained another journalist named Melika Hashemi after summoning her for "explanations". Hashemi worked for Shahr or City news agency. Mehrnoosh Zarei Hanzaki, a Tehrani journalist, was also arrested on the morning of January 22, in her personal home in Tehran and transferred to Evin prison. There is no information about the reasons for her arrest.

In Iran, all women want is their fair share of life. "Especially as women journalists, we share the same suffrage. We understand the extent of unhappiness and we have an obligation to talk about it. We have to be the voice for all those who have suffered from this unjust rule. I'm not going to stop until the very last moment that I have this opportunity. I feel obliged. It's beyond work for me. It's a human responsibility. Having further public opinion and support is crucial. Giving a voice to unheard people is vital to the revolution. I want to go back to my country. Things have to change," said Iran International TV senior reporter and presenter of Talk Show Program Sima Sabet. 

On February 18, Iran International TV announced it was shutting down its London offices and relocating operations to Washington DC due to continued assassination threats against its journalists. British counter-terrorism police reported at least 15 attempts to attack Iran International TV. The level of the threats became so severe that police authorities could no longer guarantee the safety of the journalists.

Women journalists harassed online for covering far-right and refugees

This International Women’s Day, the Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) highlights the bravery of women journalists who have continued to report in the face of online harassment. Amid death threats, smears to their reputations, and targeting because of their gender, these journalists have refused to cower. Their work is important, and they should be applauded for their refusal to be silenced. 

Online harassment of women journalists can cause extreme distress and psychological harm. Reporting on topics that attract vitriol online is not easy. CFWIJ recognizes the strength and determination it takes to continue investigating while facing harassment. On Women’s Day, we would like to pay tribute to those who continue to speak out and report truth despite cowardly attempts to silence them.

Women journalists reporting on far-right movements, refugees or immigration are increasingly becoming targets for online harassment. Recently, CFWIJ has documented cases where women journalists in Canada, France, and Ireland have become targets of far-right trolls.

In Canada, right-wing populist leaders have been weaponizing racist and nationalistic rhetoric against women journalists of color in recent years rendering them susceptible to attacks, especially in the digital sphere. In 2022, CFWIJ, along with 46 leading journalists’ associations and media outlets, signed an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking for an end to increasing cases of online harassment and violent threats against women journalists and journalists of color in the country.

Saba Eitizaz, co-host and producer of Toronto Star show “This Matters” was targeted with online hate. The perpetrator directed racially charged vile and sexist abuse at the journalist via email. On August 23, 2022, Hill Times’ Erica Ifill received a slew of hateful, vitriolic email messages from so-called "The Boogaloo Boys" targeting the race and gender of the journalist.  

Journalist Rachel Gilmore has received death threats online following her reporting on Canadian Conservative Party. On multiple occasions, she has been targeted by organized trolling campaigns. Teresa Wright revealed in January 2023, that she has received hateful messages and threats. The former health reporter for Global News published examples of messages she received on Twitter. 

Journalists in Brittany, France who reported on a project to welcome refugees in Callac, received threats that escalated to a bomb threat in the offices of magazine Le Poher. Far-right movements posted photos of journalists from Le Poher on their web pages and the office began receiving death threats via phone. A woman journalist for France 3 Bretagne, who reported on the threats against Le Poher, also began receiving death threats when her article was published.

In Ireland, award-winning social affairs correspondent for the Irish Times, Kitty Holland, faced an online smear campaign after she covered a migrant camp in Dublin. As the country faces a housing crisis and an increase in the number of refugees, anti-immigrant movements have gained prominence.“The worst however have been the attacks on my integrity, honesty, and ability as a journalist” Holland said to CFWIJ. “That has hurt and upset me to the extent that I have not slept well, have not eaten properly and I am just exhausted. My family too are upset by it.” The attempts to discredit the work of Kitty Holland are shameful and the threatening messages she received after her report was horrific.

Governments using laws to sentence and silence women journalists

CFWIJ has noted a worrying trend of governments introducing “fake news”, disinformation, or cyber security laws to target the media. Authoritarian states, such as Russia and Belarus have been weaponizing laws to imprison journalists for years. However, other countries are also discussing vague and worrying laws that could be used to target journalists. In February 2023, the Georgian Parliament approved for further discussions a draft bill that seeks to brand media outlets as foreign agents. In India, the state is proposing to introduce a law that will ban news that its government deems fake. The goal of these laws is clear, silence, and intimidate those who are critical of the state. Discourage journalists from publishing and voicing dissenting opinions on government actions. CFWIJ has documented several incidents where women journalists have been sentenced, detained, or harassed by states weaponizing law.

In March 2022, Russia introduced a law that carries a hefty prison sentence for those who “discredit its armed forces”. This law was used to sentence female journalists for their posts on social media. In February 2022, journalist Maria Ponomorenko was sentenced to six years in prison and food blogger Veronika Belotserkovskaya was sentenced to nine years in absentia. These lengthy sentences for social media posts are alarming. Along with the crackdown on media critical of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, it is clear that reporting facts is a dangerous task for any journalist in the country.

In Turkey, ETHA reporter Pınar Gayıp was accused of "insulting, slandering, disturbing the peace and tranquility of people, targeting those who fight terrorism" for a social media post she shared. In February 2023, Malawi journalist Dorica Mtenje was detained and charged with defamation and cybersecurity-related charges, for an article she didn’t write.

Women journalists stand up for truth and justice despite immense risks

The harrowing experiences of women journalists around the world highlight their immense courage and determination in pursuing and sharing the truth. From natural disasters to political protests to extremist groups, women journalists face police harassment, imprisonment, threats, and vicious online abuse for exposing injustice and speaking truth to power.

Despite the immense risks and threats, these women journalists have demonstrated tremendous courage and determination in continuing their vital and necessary work. Their stories stand as an inspiration and call us to defend the right of all journalists everywhere to report the truth without fear. The perils these women face highlight the critical importance of their truth-telling in a world that too often seeks to silence them. We must stand in solidarity with women journalists and continue demanding accountability, transparency, and an end to censorship and oppression. Only then can we build a future of democracy, justice, and equality for all.