Orange the World: End Violence Against Women and Girls

November 25, 2015

Today, on International Day to End Violence Against Women and Girls, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) stands in solidarity with its Asia Pacific affiliates on the issue of violence against women working in the media. Specifically, this year the IFJ is calling on journalists and their unions to raise awareness and take action against gender violence, highlighting the damaging and rapidly increasing incidents of cyber-bullying and threats online.

IFJ President, Jim Boumelha said: "This violence is almost universally under-reported. Nevertheless, the prevalence of such violence suggests that globally, millions of women are experiencing violence or living with its consequences. I urge all our unions to join the advocacy campaign across the world."

The 2015 IFJ Asia Pacific gender in the media research in, Inside the News, found that 1 in 5 female media workers have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.

The IFJ Asia-Pacific said: "From our research, we know that many female journalists face intimidation, threats, violence and attacks. Increasingly, attacks and violence are coming from online sources, making it harder of female journalists to address personal safety issues. All of these acts of intimidation are intended to silence or deter women journalists from doing their jobs."

According to INSI research, female journalists are increasingly threatened online with reports of journalists receiving death threats via twitter. More than 25% of threats against women now come from online sources. Female journalists are also increasingly sexually harassed online via email, Facebook and Twitter.

The challenges for female media workers across the Asia Pacific far exceed those experienced by their male counterparts. As journalism expands further into the digital realm, so does the scope for threats.

"We call on media organisations, unions and governments to address the issue and adopt policies to support female journalists and end violence against them," the IFJ said.

You can join the IFJ campaign by using the hastag #IFJVAW online and sharing graphics available here.

The UN is running a global UNiTE campaign against violence against women, calling on supporters to #orangetheworld


For more information contact:
International Federation of Journalists
Phone: +61 2 9333 0946
Website: www.ifj.org