Rania Abdullah

Yemen – The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate organized a solidarity meeting yesterday, Tuesday, November 25, via Zoom, in collaboration with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), in support of Yemeni female journalists facing violence and incitement.

As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the syndicate held a virtual meeting attended by several Yemeni female journalists. The session highlighted major campaigns aimed at silencing women journalists, ranging from incitement through places of worship and social media platforms to political forums.

In this context, Maria Angeles Simperi, Chair of the IFJ Gender Council, affirmed the federation’s solidarity and the support of female journalists worldwide for their Yemeni peers, praising their resilience in continuing journalistic work despite threats and intimidation attempts.

She emphasized that organizing such meetings sends a strong message of support, stressing the importance of adhering to ethical standards that protect women journalists and uphold media freedom and democracy.

Fatima Muthar, syndicate board member and meeting coordinator, stated that the syndicate unequivocally rejects any form of violence against female journalists and affirms its ongoing support for their causes.

During the meeting, several journalists shared their experiences with smear and incitement campaigns, stressing the need to strengthen protection and solidarity to provide a safe environment for journalistic work. Discussions focused on combating gender-based violence, addressing threats and harassment, ensuring legal protection and institutional support, and enhancing collaboration between journalists and women’s organizations.

Widening Scope of Violence

Media professional Yerstin Al-Nahmi explained that the rise of virtual platforms has amplified the harm faced by women, particularly female journalists, with attacks now extending beyond immediate circles and often led by individuals with power and influence.

She noted that these campaigns do not only target journalists directly but also anyone who shows solidarity with them, emphasizing that attacks affect any free voice and are harsher against women due to their public presence and participation in public opinion.

Al-Nahmi highlighted that simply appearing publicly is considered by some a “crime” deserving punishment, prompting many competent media professionals to withdraw from public roles and work behind the scenes due to societal constraints.

She concluded that these systematic campaigns aim to silence female journalists and their supporters, noting that any woman in the public sphere is exposed to incitement, reflecting the significant challenges women face in leadership roles.

The meeting concluded with several commitments focusing on developing tools to defend female journalists, promoting gender equality in media, and addressing current challenges confronting journalists and media professionals in Yemen