Skopje, 1 December 2023 (MIA) – At a Ministerial Council side event on Friday, 46 OSCE participating States issued a joint statement highlighting the safety of women journalists. 

North Macedonia's Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Bujar Osmani stressed that progress can only be achieved through inclusivity.

"Achieving inclusivity means we must double the efforts to tackle gender-based violence, both online and offline," he noted. 

"The precise purpose of today’s side-event, which we are organizing with RFoM’s support, is to spotlight this important topic which is increasingly prevalent and thus requires closer attention and joint action,” Osmani added.

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, pointed to the need to foster the safety of female journalists to uphold pluralism which is key for media freedom and democracy. 

"Let us never forget that the safety of women journalists is not only a matter of individual well-being, but one of collective concern and of a collective responsibility. When they are targeted, it is not just an attack on them as individuals but on the very essence of media freedom and our democracy. Together, we stand united in our attempt to ensure that every voice is heard and respected in the pursuit of peace and security across the OSCE region," said Ribeiro.

Malta's Minister of Foreign Affairs and incoming OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ian Borg reaffirmed commitment to enhancing the safety of women journalists, urging all States to join in efforts to champion both media freedom and gender equality. 

Minister Borg read the joint statement issued by 46 OSCE participating States, including Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

"Recognizing the essential role of media freedom, pluralism, and the diversity of voices in enabling and sustaining democracy and comprehensive security, it is imperative that States intensify their efforts to safeguard the rights and safety of journalists. With nearly three-quarters of women journalists experiencing online violence in their work, increased collaborative efforts are urgently needed to address the safety of women journalists, both online and offline,” the statement reads.

With this joint statement, participating States reinforce their pledge to condemn acts of online violence against women journalists as one of the gravest modern threats to both their safety and the freedom of the media. Their goal is to comprehensively enhance journalists' safety by allocating the necessary human and financial resources to combat online violence targeting women in the field of journalism. The joint statement emphasizes the need for enhanced state collection, analysis, and reporting, and calls for strengthened mutual co-operation to foster an inclusive, gender-responsive, and whole-of-society approach.

The Chairman-in-Office and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media call on all participating States to increase efforts to champion both media freedom and gender equality across the OSCE region.