Invitation til Joint Web Dialogue on the "Safety of Female Journalists Online: The Role of Parliamentary Action”

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Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Representative on Freedom of the Media
Teresa Ribeiro
Vienna, 25 March 2022
Dear Members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly!
It is my pleasure to invite you to participate in a Questionnaire on the Safety of Female
Journalists Online: the role of Parliamentary action. The questionnaire, a joint initiative by the
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, aims at
identifying and advocating better preventive and protective mechanisms for female journalists
within the OSCE region. I presented the questionnaire at the 2021 Winter Meeting; you can find
it annexed to this letter and via this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SOFJO-PA.
Equal opportunities to freedom of expression is indispensable for media freedom and the
basis for peace, comprehensive security, and sustainable development. Without diversity or
plurality, however, there can be no democracy. Democratic participation at all levels is possible
only where everyone can both access information about policies, programmes and issues of
public interest, and discuss openly their respective strengths and weaknesses.
Female journalists and parliamentarians share the burden of regularly facing the same
patterns of attacks and threats online, resulting in the worrying trend of contradicting and limiting
pluralism, being fundamental for democracy. Gender-based online attacks regularly aim at
denying women a public voice, leading to self-censorship or worse: women retreating from the
public sphere, depriving all of society of diverse information and inclusive public debates.
Parliamentarians have a fundamental role in ensuring that freedom of expression is
enabled for all, including by holding governments to account, by addressing harassment and
inappropriate behaviour by politicians and public figures, and that ensuring adequate, timely and
effective prevention, protection and prosecution mechanisms are in place for the protection of
journalists.
In 2018, all OSCE participating States committed themselves to improve the safety of
journalists, including by adding a gender perspective to all efforts pertaining to journalists’ safety
and taking effective measures to end impunity for attacks against them.
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Wallnerstrasse 6-6a Telephone Telefax E-mail
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Strong responses to online harassment and abuse against women journalists can only be
developed if all different stakeholders, including parliamentarians, have a comprehensive
understanding of the scope of the problem and of its impact on free expression and the free flow
of information.
Based on the results and needs assessment, my Office and the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly will enable an exchange of good practices to foster initiatives for improved regulatory
frameworks and measures for the safety of women journalists. As noted in the email, a first event
will take place on Wednesday, 20 April online (15:00 to 17:00 CET).
We count on your support and co-operation. I would kindly ask you to respond to the
survey by Wednesday, 13 April.
Yours sincerely,
Teresa Ribeiro
Wallnerstrasse 6-6a Telephone Telefax E-mail
A - 1010 Vienna, Austria +43-1-514 36 6800 +43-1-514 36 6802 pm-fom@osce.org
ATTACHMENT
SURVEY ''Safety of Female Journalists Online: the Role of Parliamentary Action''
1) Challenges to the safety of journalists today
On a scale of 1 to 4 (or 5) what do you consider the most pressing challenges journalists, in
particular female journalists, face when exercising their profession in your country and/or in your
home constituency? (1 being the least pressing)
 Online harassment/abuse (1-5)
 Physical violence (1-5)
 Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and/or fear of imprisonment (1-
5)
 Disinformation and distrust in the media (1-5)
 Other:
Optional: Please provide examples from your country.
2) Protection frameworks ensuring the safety of journalists
Ensuring the safety of journalists requires the existence and implementation of a legal
framework that adequately recognizes and protects the right to freedom of expression, media
freedom, equality, and non-discrimination, in line with international commitments.
a. How would you assess the current regulatory framework ensuring the protection of
journalists in your country?
 Insufficient
 Needing improvement
 Sufficient but needing improvement
 Quite strong
 Very strong
 Don’t know
Optional: Please provide information on existing regulatory frameworks.
b. In your role as MP, have you within the past two years been engaged/spoken out on the
development of new initiatives touching upon the safety of journalists?
 Not engaged
 Not much engaged
 Quite engaged
 Very engaged
 Part of my day-to-day parliamentary work
Optional: Please provide examples of such initiatives.
Wallnerstrasse 6-6a Telephone Telefax E-mail
A - 1010 Vienna, Austria +43-1-514 36 6800 +43-1-514 36 6802 pm-fom@osce.org
3) Gender-based challenges to women journalists
Similarly to women politicians, two out of three women journalists have experienced online
abuse related to their work.
a. How would you assess the gender-sensitivity in the regulatory framework protecting
journalists from harassment, violence and attacks in your country?
 Insufficient
 Needing improvement
 Sufficient but needing improvement
 Quite strong
 Very strong
 Don’t know
Optional: Please provide examples of gender-responsive approaches to the safety of
journalists.
b. In your role as MP, have you within the past two years engaged in ensuring a gender-
responsive approach in regard to law-making on freedom of expression and the protection
of journalists?
 Not engaged
 Not much engaged
 Quite engaged
 Very engaged
 Part of my day-to-day parliamentary work
Optional: Please provide examples of such engagement.
4) Digital technologies and challenges to freedom of expression online
The internet provides unprecedented opportunities to exercise freedom of expression. Yet,
digital technologies can facilitate the spread of hateful and targeted campaigns.
a. To your knowledge, has your national legal framework been adapted within the past five
years to strengthen the protection against online harassment and abuse (e.g., by adopting
new legislation, updating existing legislation, etc.)?
 Yes, new legislation has been adopted
 Yes, existing legislation has been adjusted
 No changes have been made
 Changes are being considered
Optional: Please provide examples of existing legal frameworks addressing online
harassment and abuse.
b. In your role as MP, what do you consider the most pressing challenge to ensure freedom
of expression online?
Wallnerstrasse 6-6a Telephone Telefax E-mail
A - 1010 Vienna, Austria +43-1-514 36 6800 +43-1-514 36 6802 pm-fom@osce.org
5) Prevention
In order to effectively address online abuse against female journalists, in addition to strong
protection mechanisms, preventive measures are equally important.
a. On a scale of 1 to 5, how supportive are you in dedicating state resources to the
implementation of awareness-raising initiatives, trainings or other prevention activities
on online abuse against female journalists to the following audience groups (1 being least
positive):
 Journalists/Journalist associations (1-5)
 Media outlets and supervisory boards (1-5)
 Law enforcement (1-5)
 Judiciary (1-5)
 Civil Society (1-5)
 Education (1-5)
 Other (1-5)
Optional: Please provide examples of existing preventive measures to enhance the safety of
journalists.
b. In your role as MP, have you within the last two years publicly condemned attacks,
expressed support, and sensitized citizens about the negative impact of attacks against
female journalists?
 Yes, very actively
 Yes, quite actively
 Yes, but I would like to be more active
 No, not much actively
 No, not actively
c. If yes, please check the boxes of actions you have taken (multiple answers acceptable)
 Public condemnation of attacks
 Expressed support
 Engaged in citizen awareness actions
 Engaged with Civil Society Organizations
 Raised parliamentary questions to government
 Other:
Optional: Please provide concrete examples.
6) Situational assessment
To what extent do you consider the safety of female journalists, to be a challenge in your country
today?
 To a very small extent
 To a small extent
 To a moderate extent
 To a large extent
 To a very large extent
Wallnerstrasse 6-6a Telephone Telefax E-mail
A - 1010 Vienna, Austria +43-1-514 36 6800 +43-1-514 36 6802 pm-fom@osce.org
7) Follow-up
a. Which country are you from?
b. Please insert your name and email if you are interested in activities within the field of
freedom of expression/safety of journalists and of female journalists in your PA
functions.
 Name:
 Email:


1
CONCEPT NOTE
SAFETY OF FEMALE JOURNALISTS ONLINE: THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARY
ACTION
Joint Web Dialogue event by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) and the OSCE
Representative on Freedom of the Media (OSCE/RFoM)
Online // Wednesday, 20 April 2022, 15.00-17.00 CEST
BACKGROUND
Online harassment, discrimination and violence have become a serious issue that journalists
and media actors face on a daily basis. In this regard, female journalists are particularly
exposed to, and disproportionally confronted by multifaceted forms of online violence. This is
confirmed by numerous reports and studies.1 For instance, a global survey conducted in 2020
by UNESCO and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)2 revealed that 73 percent out of
625 women journalists surveyed reported to have experienced online violence – with only 11
percent of them claiming to have reported such cases to the police. Gender-based violence
against journalists online is a global phenomenon impacting their every-day work and well-
being.
Such violence is not only destructive and, in some cases, fatal for journalists – it has also a
tremendously negative impact on the freedom of expression, the pluralism of opinions and
the information landscape overall, as it leads to self-censorship and entails a chilling effect,
which adds up to a global decline of press freedom.3 Moreover, it negatively influences
aspirations of women to pursue a career in journalism, therefore, further shrinking plurality
and the role of journalists in maintaining checks and balances, fundamental for the democratic
functioning of societies. Challenges caused by new and protracted conflicts, health
emergencies, natural disasters, and other emergency situations are ramping up cases of online
violence against female journalists who are reporting on these issues.
Safety of all journalists is a prerequisite not only for media freedom, but for justice,
democracy, as well as for the fulfillment and enjoyment of human rights more broadly. Attacks
against journalists pose a direct threat to democracy, which is why all forms of violence and
in particular increased risks of threats for women journalists need to be reflected in and
adequately addressed by the national legislative and policy frameworks. By adopting new and
updating existing laws, as well as by ensuring their effective and meaningful implementation,
1 OSCE, UNESCO and ICFJ reports.
2 https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375136.
3 83 percent of the world’s population experienced a decline in press freedom in their country over the past five years as
reported by Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem).
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policymakers can help prevent and address online harassment, as well as to end impunity of
perpetrators.
Over the course of last year, several good practices and legal responses in addressing the
online harassment and abuse of journalists have been identified across the OSCE participating
States (pS) that could be possibly extrapolated to the entire OSCE region4. OSCE pS have made
clear commitments in that regard, being clearly outlined in relevant OSCE Ministerial Council
Decisions, as well as across the OSCE PA Declarations and Resolutions over the years. In
particular, the 2018 OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalists5 recognizes the
distinct risks faced by women journalists as well as the need to add a gender perspective to
all policy endeavors towards ensuring the safety of journalists. Moreover, the OSCE
Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) has promoted the need to ensure the safety
of female journalists online through its SOFJO project since 2015 and has recently produced a
comprehensive Resource Guide6 with proposed actions and recommendations for key actors,
including for legislative bodies and members of parliament. This tool is complemented by
good practice examples and additional resources.
Building upon their parallel work on the topic of safety of journalists7, the RFoM and the OSCE
PA, under the guidance of its General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and
Humanitarian Questions and of its Special Representative on Gender Issues, will host a Joint
Web Dialogue on the “Safety of Female Journalists Online: the role of Parliamentary action”.
This will be the first joint event in a common initiative on promoting the safety of female
journalists online. The event will build on a questionnaire on the safety of female journalists
online shared with members of the Assembly during the meeting of its third General
Committee during the 2022 Winter Meeting. Its purpose is to enable parliamentarians to
elaborate on main concepts pertaining to the safety of female journalists online and to take
stock of the existing challenges towards the digital safety of women journalists and possible
solutions thereto.
Moreover, the event aims to touch upon particular issues related to the safety of female
journalists in times of crises and conflicts. During conflicts, patriarchal structures are often
strengthened, which also affects journalists working on and often reporting from conflict
areas. Overall, female journalists are more exposed to safety threats, often being excluded
from their own security assessment and limiting their access to conflict zones.
Finally, parliamentarians are invited to exchange their experience and their insights on the
role of national parliaments in ensuring the implementation of OSCE commitments in the field
of media freedom. Hence, the event will serve not only as an opportunity to discuss the
emerging forms of violence against female journalists, but it will also focus on discussing
effective prevention, protection and prosecution mechanisms aiming at reinforcing mobilizing
action in that regard.
4 https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/413552.
5 https://www.osce.org/chairmanship/406538
6 https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/468861
7 In 2019, OSCE RFoM jointly with International Press Institute issued a guide on Legal Responses to Online Harassment
and Abuse of Journalists: Perspectives from Finland, France and Ireland. In 2021, OSCE PA Special Representative on
Gender Issue Fry issued a report on “Violence Against Women Journalists and Politicians: A Growing Crisis” and held a
parliamentary dialogue in November 2021.
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OBJECTIVES OF THE EVENT
The event will aim to:
1. Provide an opportunity to elaborate on main legal and policy concepts, initiatives and
good practices pertaining to the safety of female journalists online, including those
related to the safety of journalists in times of crises and conflicts, building on a
questionnaire on the safety of female journalists online that was shared with Members
of the Assembly prior to the event;
2. Provide a platform for parliamentarians to share particular concerns and challenges
faced in ensuring safe online spaces to female journalists in their countries and,
together with experts, elaborate on how national parliaments can work to effectively
address such challenges;
3. Raise awareness among parliamentarians of OSCE pS on existing OSCE tools in this
field, including on the RFoM’s Resource Guide on SOFJO.
TARGET AUDIENCE
• Members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and relevant staff
• Representatives of OSCE executive structures
• Experts in the field of media freedom and safety of journalists
REGISTRATION
Please register via the OSCE PA Registration Portal - you may access it via the OSCE PA website
or this LINK - by Monday, 18 April 2022, at 17:00 CEST.
The agenda of the event as well as the online access details will be shared in due course.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
The event will be held online, via Zoom conferencing platform. Members are invited to
indicate the language in which they would prefer to follow the event (English/Russian) by
email.
English/Russian interpretation will be provided upon sufficient number of requests.
CONTACT
Should you have any questions regarding the registration and participation, please do not
hesitate to contact Mr. Ilias Trochidis at ilias.trochidis@oscepa.dk or at +43 676 320 03 95


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OSCEs Parlamentariske Forsamling
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Dato:
Delegationens medlemmer og stedfortrædere
8. april 2022
Invitation til Joint Web Dialogue on the “Safety of Female Journalists
Online: The Role of Parliamentary Action”
Møderne finde
sted:
Online via Zoom
I perioden: 20. april 2022 kl. 15.00 - 17.00
Information:
The registration will take place via the OSCE PA Registra-
tion Portal – you may access it via the OSCE PA website
or this link.
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