From the newsrooms of Zimbabwe to the global stage, women journalists continue to experience violence. According to the UNESCO 2025 World Trends Report, 24 women journalists were killed between 2022 and 2025, while 41 percent endured verbal or physical sexual harassment. Unfortunately, four out of five victims suffer in silence, depicting a terrifying reality where online abuse is routinely followed by physical attacks. These statistics underscore an urgent need for systemic media reforms to ensure inclusive working environments.
The 2026 State of Press Freedom Report in Southern Africa highlights anecdotal evidence of sexual harassment in Zimbabwe’s newsrooms and the media sector, but the fear of retaliation leads to under-reporting of the crisis and low prosecutions. A WAN-INFRA Women in News report says about 53 per cent of women in Zimbabwean newsrooms have faced sexual harassment, higher than the regional average. Harassment cases were high in radio at 31 per cent, while print had 29 per cent and TV had 25 per cent.
To galvanize Zimbabwe media stakeholders on the unfolding crisis, Gender and Media Connect and WAN INFRA Women in News co-hosted an event in Harare on 30 June 2026. The event provided an opportunity to re-energise the Women’s Media Network of Zimbabwe in setting up strategies to address violence against women journalists.
Dr. Nanette Silukhuni, Director in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services
It safeguards democracy, promotes national cohesion, informs and educates citizens and drives the creative economy. It is therefore the duty of Government to provide a clear, enabling and accountable policy and legal framework that allows the media to thrive.
Dr. Nanette Silukhuni, Director in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services emphasizing the media sector’s strategic role.
Represented by Mrs. Ingrid Tagwireyi, UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to support the Women’s Media Network of Zimbabwe at the event underscoring the need to include all women in all spheres including those working in community media.
Mrs. Tagwireyi issued a vital reminder that industry-wide progress cannot happen if journalists working outside major urban centers are left behind. She urged the network to intentionally extend its reach to grassroots and community-based reporters who often operate without institutional safety nets.
UNESCO’s broader efforts to address gender in media, includes initiatives such as the Gender-Sensitive Indicators for Media (GSIM) and the Social Media 4 Peace (SM4P) project, which aim to create safer, more inclusive digital and physical environments. In partnership with Gender Media Connect, UNESCO ROSA also published the report titled: Understanding technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) against women journalists in Zimbabwe , which highlights the growing risks women face online and offers strategies for prevention.
To create safe and inclusive working environments, organisations must enforce sexual harassment policies, promote inclusive content, and adopt digital literacy tools such as the UNESCO’s Media and Information Literacy framework, enabling journalists and citizens alike to critically curate and engage with information.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/reports-experts-expose-perilous-reality-women-journalists?hub=701
