Media Freedom Coalition Statement on International Women’s Day 2026

As we commemorate International Women’s Day 2026, the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition call attention to escalating threats to journalist safety, with women journalists disproportionately targeted. According to a recent UNESCO Global Report on World Media Trends, the growing trend of violence against women journalists continues both online and offline, with perpetrators seeking to push them into seclusion and deny their rightful participation in the public sphere. Special attention must be paid to all women journalists who face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination or increased risk of harassment and targeting, for example on grounds of disability, minority status, sexual orientation and gender identity or their focus on politically sensitive issues.

Widespread use of social media and artificial intelligence have increased technology-facilitated gender-based violence. The digital sphere has become a major arena for violence against women journalists, with online harassment being the most prevalent form. According to a 2025 UN Women study, 75 % of women journalists faced technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Moreover, gendered disinformation and online violence too often escalate into physical threats, such as stalking, swatting and verbal harassment or physical assault. The UN Women study found that the share of women journalists linking offline attacks to online violence more than doubled since 2020.

This threat of violence increases the barrier for women to engage in journalistic practices, inhibiting the variation of journalistic content and thus plurality of information. This also makes journalism not as equal a practice for women as men. The Media Freedom Coalition also calls special attention to conflict situations, where women journalists face heightened safety risks while reporting on the ground. These include military attacks, threats of police intimidation, surveillance and gender-based violence.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day 2026 “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls” underlines the need to ensure accountability for harassment and violence in all its forms against women journalists. It is crucial to ensure and strengthen access to justice for women and girls in all their diversity, and women journalists in particular, including by promoting inclusive, accessible and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.

The Media Freedom Coalition will continue its efforts to advocate for the safety of journalists and call on all actors to commit to the protection of all women journalists and media workers, both offline and online.