Journalists Against Violence Against Women: Caring for the Safety of Female Journalists is Not an Add-On or a Luxury
On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the informal group Journalists Against Violence Against Women reminds us that attacks on media workers are not a "mere" individual problem, but an alarm for society.
The situation in Serbia is indeed alarming.
According to the database of the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, since the beginning of 2025, 289 incidents of pressure and attacks on journalists have been recorded. Almost a quarter of these attacks were against female journalists.
In 2024, according to the statistics of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office (published on the Safe Journalists website), there were more public prosecution cases formed concerning incidents against female journalists (54%) than against male journalists (46%) — a trend that is concerning as it indicates a gender component in violence. Women make up 41% of the victims in cases based on filed criminal complaints/reports from the beginning of 2016 to the end of September 2025.
Female journalists are subjected to attacks not only because of the work they do but also because they are women.
Attacks on female journalists include sexist insults, threats through family and private channels, sexual violence, and smear campaigns.
Due to their position, they often face additional pressures: from economic and labor-related issues (insecure contracts, weak protection) to digital and online attacks, while institutions often fail to provide adequate protection.
Fear of consequences—professional, personal, security—leads to self-censorship, withdrawal from reporting on key issues, and even leaving the profession.
The Declaration on the Safety of Female Journalists in the Western Balkans, adopted by the SafeJournalists network, clearly states: “The safety of female journalists is a prerequisite for freedom of expression and democracy.”
Therefore, today and every day, we demand:
We call on institutions to end the practice of impunity. Every attack on a female or male journalist must be investigated, prosecuted, and sanctioned.
We urge colleagues in newsrooms not to ignore threats and attacks, but to report, document, and support one another.
As members of the media professionals' community, we must actively work to create a safe media space, including the protection of women in media and empowering female colleagues.
We believe that change begins when more of us refuse to remain silent. Therefore, today we loudly emphasize: caring for the safety of female journalists is not an addition or a luxury; it is a prerequisite for responsible journalism and free media.
