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The initiative, led by the Alianza Regional por la Libre Expresión e Información, seeks to promote the adoption and improvement of protocols within media organizations, contributing to safer, more inclusive and rights-based working environments.
A growing challenge for freedom of expression
In recent years, online gender-based violence has become one of the main threats to journalism in the region. This phenomenon not only affects the safety and integrity of women journalists, but also undermines the quality of public debate and the functioning of democratic societies.
UNESCO’s 2024 study “Media Without Violence” shows that nearly 60% of media outlets in the region lack specific protocols to prevent and address this type of violence, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen institutional capacities and response frameworks.
A regional approach with a focus on high-risk contexts
The project will place particular emphasis on journalists in exile or forced displacement, a highly vulnerable and still insufficiently visible group.
In coordination with regional networks and partner organizations, tools and methodologies will be adapted to respond to these complex contexts.
Transforming media from within
The initiative will work directly with media organizations across the region to strengthen or develop institutional protocols through participatory processes of training, exchange and co-creation.
The project is structured in several phases:
- identification and assessment with participating media outlets
- training workshops and co-creation of protocols
- development of regional recommendations
- technical support for effective implementation
This process builds on previous experiences such as the “Media Without Violence” project, which developed validated tools to address gender-based violence in media environments.
Towards safer and more inclusive media environments
Through this initiative, UNESCO and its partners reaffirm their commitment to the safety of journalists and the promotion of gender equality, helping ensure that women can fully exercise their right to freedom of expression.
Strengthening the safety of women journalists is not only a matter of individual rights—it is essential for building more democratic, inclusive and resilient societies.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/latin-america-advances-preventing-online-gender-based-violence-against-women-journalists?hub=701
