By A total of 360 press associations, trade unions, media outlets, public institutions, civil society organizations, as well as individual journalists and media experts across the region have signed the Declaration on Improving the Safety of Women Journalists in the Western Balkans.
SafeJournalists network initiated the signing of this document, with the aim of creating a safe and enabling environment for women journalists in the region. The Declaration was adopted at the conference “Journalism Under Attack: An Era of Unfreedom and Professional Resolve,” held in Belgrade from 29 September to 1 October, and remained open for signature until recently.
Signatories recognized that ensuring the safety of women journalists is a key prerequisite for protecting freedom of expression, strengthening democracy and guaranteeing citizens’ right to information.
The Declaration highlights that women journalists across the region continue to face disproportionate risks, including online harassment, physical intimidation, workplace discrimination and gender-based violence.
“Weak institutions, fragmented legal frameworks and entrenched gender norms have created an environment in which violence and harassment are often downplayed or go unpunished, forcing many women journalists into self-censorship,” the Declaration states.
The document sets out obligations for state institutions, including aligning national legal frameworks with UN, EU and Council of Europe standards, strengthening the capacities of law-enforcement and judicial bodies, and ensuring effective institutional responses.
At the same time, media associations, trade unions and civil-society organizations that signed the Declaration commit to advocating for the implementation — not merely the adoption — of legal and regulatory frameworks. They also pledge to promote and implement gender-sensitive safety protocols within newsrooms and to provide support services for women journalists who face threats.
The full text of the Declaration is available at the link.
