IFJ: Female journalists at increased risk of online bullying, harassment, rape and murder while working on stories

Female journalists are far more likely to suffer attacks, threats and bullying compared to their male counterparts the International Federation of Journalists claimed.

The IFJ today launched a global campaign against following what is said was a rise in the level of threats and harassment on women journalists around the world.

IFJ gender council co-chair and NUJ member Mindy Ryan said: “Tragically, women journalists are under bigger threat than their male colleagues when it comes to attacks, bullying, threats, cyber-bullying, rape and abuse; all effective tools to silence women's voices in the media. As we encourage more and more women into the profession, their safety must be paramount.”

As part of the international day of action, the NUJ has launched new guidance to members in the area of harassment and staying safe in the workplace.

The NUJ said female journalists were at risk of sexual violence, physical bullying and online harassment.

According to the IFJ, six female journalists were killed during 2013 while working on stories:

Rebecca Davidson, a New Zealand national, deputy head of programming at the Dubai-based Arabian Radio Network was killed on 8 February in a boat collision while on assignment in the Seychelles
Rahmo Abdulkadir, working for Radio Abudwaq, was shot in Towfiq district in north Mogadishu, Somalia capital, when she was close to her house
Baiu Lu, from the Urumqi Evening News died on 18 April, in an accident while conducting interviews on a construction site in Urumqi, capital of Northwest China
Habiba Ahmet Abd Elaziz from UAE-based Xpress newspaper was killed on 14 August together with four other journalists in Egypt
Yarra Abbas, television correspondent for Al-Ikhbariyah TV was killed on 27 May, while covering clashes near the border with Lebanon
Ghislaine Dupont, who worked for Radio France International (RFI) was abducted and shot dead on 2 November together with her male colleague Claude Verlon in the Malian northern city of Kidal.