IJU Raises Alarm Over Extremism and Digital Violence Against Women Journalists

KalimNews, New Delhi, 25 November 2025: On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has expressed serious concern over the rising global threat posed by extremism to the safety and rights of women journalists. The union has also highlighted the escalating danger of online violence against women, especially those in public roles such as politics, activism, and journalism. According to the United Nations, this form of violence is rapidly growing and aims to silence the voices of many women, particularly those with a strong presence on digital platforms.

The IJU has joined forces with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to raise awareness about the increasing extremism and targeted attacks against women journalists. These attacks are often carried out through online abuse, harassment, violence, and coordinated disinformation campaigns, with devastating consequences for the victims.

Across the globe, women journalists continue to face heightened threats. In Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, the situation has worsened for women, with systemic restrictions placed on their education and employment. As a result, many female journalists have been forced to leave their profession. A survey conducted during the Taliban regime found that 87% of women journalists had experienced gender discrimination, and 60% had lost their jobs or careers entirely.

In Europe, far-right political movements have also emerged as a major threat. Parties such as the Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d’Italia), led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have pushed pro-natalist policies and openly opposed what they term "gender ideology," undermining reproductive rights and gender equality. In Spain, the far-right party Vox launched a smear campaign against journalist Cristina Fallarás, following her criticism of the party’s fascist and racist stance.

In Latin America, women journalists are also facing targeted violence. In Argentina, President Javier Milei's right-wing supporters have been behind a wave of threats against journalists and women’s rights activists. Similarly, in Somalia, women journalists continue to be under attack, with extremist groups like Al-Shabaab and ISIS, as well as extremist religious factions, using violence to silence female journalists. The political and security climate in the country exacerbates these threats, leaving women reporters vulnerable to physical harm and intimidation.

The IFJ’s Gender Council has called for stronger legislation to safeguard women’s rights, improved protection for journalists reporting on extremist groups, and firm public condemnation of all forms of extremism targeting women and the media. They have underscored the importance of recognising that digital violence is just as harmful as physical violence. The United Nations, in its ongoing efforts to combat this issue, has launched the UNiTE campaign, which runs from 25 November to 10 December. This initiative is part of 16 days of activism aimed at addressing violence against women, culminating on International Human Rights Day, which falls on 10 December.

The IJU has urged its members, as well as Gender Councils across India, to actively engage in the campaign and lend their voices to the fight against violence directed at women journalists, particularly in the context of extremism and online abuse. The IJU has called for governments to create safe digital spaces, free from trolls, doxing, and hate speech, where women can report, write, and speak out without fear of harassment or attack.

The union has made it clear that the fight against digital violence is crucial, especially as online tools are increasingly being used to stalk, harass, and abuse women journalists. It is essential that governments, media organisations, and civil society work together to ensure that women journalists can carry out their work without the threat of violence or online intimidation.

In a statement, the IJU concluded: "We must stand together to protect the safety, rights, and voices of women journalists across the globe. The growing trend of extremism and digital violence against women in media is an urgent issue that demands immediate attention and action."