On 2 November, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, Femena calls for accountability for attacks against women journalists and an end to the violence, detention and judicial harassment that undermine their freedom to report.
Across the SWANA region, women journalists face violence, threats, detention and judicial harassment. In Lebanon, Christina Assi continues to demand justice for the Israeli attack that killed her colleague Issam Abdallah and left her severely injured. In Sudan, Rasha Awad has faced online incitement to kill her over her public positions. In Egypt, the prosecution of Lina Attalah and the ruling against her and Mada Masr threaten independent journalism. Reports concerning Palestinian journalists Farah Abu Ayyash and Bushra al-Tawil describe solitary confinement and ill-treatment in Israeli detention, raising urgent concerns for their safety and dignity. In Iran, a 15-year prison sentence against photojournalist Yalda Moaiery signals increased securitization and the growing use of a new espionage law to silence civil society, including journalists.
These cases demand distinct responses, united by a fundamental principle: women must be able to report, question those in power, and expose violations without fear of retaliation. Physical violence, threats, and the misuse of judicial proceedings can silence individual journalists while intimidating entire newsrooms. Misogynistic abuse and sexualized smear campaigns create additional barriers to women’s participation in public life.
Femena calls for independent and effective investigations into attacks, credible threats, and reported abuses in detention, and accountability for those responsible. We demand the release of journalists detained for their work, an end to judicial harassment, and the protection of independent media. Survivors must have access to justice, reparation, medical care, and sustained psychosocial support. Protection measures must respect their choices and enable them to continue their work safely.
We stand in solidarity with women journalists and women human rights defenders across the region. Their right to document violations must be upheld alongside their rights to safety, freedom and justice.