"Covering women’s issues does not come without danger. A female editor was murdered for denouncing a sexist policy. A reporter was imprisoned for interviewing a rape victim. A woman reporter was physically attacked for defending access to tampons, while a female blogger was threatened online for criticizing a video game. For International Women’s Day, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) wants to turn the spotlight on violence against journalists covering these issues. This report does not address the status of women journalists, equal employment of women in journalism or sexist (or non-sexist) attitudes in the media. These issues have been widely covered and debated elsewhere. This report focuses specifically on threats and violence against both men and women reporters covering women’s rights. In 2016 and 2017, RSF registered more than 60 cases in more than 20 countries of the rights of journalists being violated in connection with reporting on the condition of women. Almost 90 cases have been registered since 2012. This data has allowed us to classify the kinds of violence: murder, imprisonment, verbal attacks, physical attacks and online aggression. Cyber-harassment represents more than 40% of the cases registered. In RSF’s view, the information predators responsible for this violence fall into three main categories. Some are religious groups. They target journalists who challenge their propaganda by advocating the emancipation of women. Some are criminal organizations that object to media meddling in their affairs by denouncing their exploitation of women. And finally, there are autocratic governments that are determined to defend their patriarchal societies." (Introduction)
1. COVERING WOMEN'S RIGHTS CAN KILL, 4
Miroslava Breach and Gauri Lankesh, journalists who provoked -- Murdered with impunity
2. A RANGE OF ABUSES TO SILENCE JOURNALISTS, 8
The figures -- Elena Milashina: price on her head -- Online threats
3. LEADING PREDATORS, 12
Radical Islamists -- Pro-life -- Organized crime
4. AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES, 17
Judicial harassment in Iran -- Government blackout -- Still off limits despite legislative progress
5. SHUT UP OR RESIST, 25
Exile when the pressure is too much -- Resistant voices -- Interview with Le Monde reporter Annick Cojean
RECOMMENDATIONS, 30