RightsCon Tunis 2019

– Continuation of Safety of Female Journalists Online: #SOFJO panel (12-1pm) –

While emerging technologies enable a plurality of voices to be expressed online, across the globe, online threats and calls for violence raise the stakes for women speaking, blogging, writing and reporting in the public sphere every day. Four years ago, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) initiated the Safety of Female Journalists Online (#SOFJO) project to raise awareness and provide tools and resources for journalists who have been targets of online abuse. In the last years several political commitments adopted at the international level underline the specific risks faced by female voices online and acknowledging the need for a systematic gender-sensitive approach. It is clear, however, that much still needs to be done, as online abuse continues to endanger media pluralism and, as a result, democracy as such.

This two-part session will include a screening of the documentary ‘A Dark Place’ that was launched in December 2018 by the RFoM, together with the International Press Institute. The film highlights the experiences of female journalists who have been affected by online harassment, in a bid to raise awareness of the problem and inspire change. Prior to the screening – which will take place from 1-2pm – we’ll hear from experts from international and civil society organizations, as well as from women journalists themselves. The objective of this panel – taking place from 12-1pm – is to explore the specific type of online abuse against female journalists and the differentiated response needed from the international community, to find practical solutions to ensure equal access and participation of women and all marginalized voices online, in order to guarantee that a plurality of voices is heard online and democracy can thrive.