A 2021 UNESCO study across 125 countries highlighted the concerning issue of journalist safety, with 400 journalist killings in the past five years, including 37 women. The study also revealed that women journalists face significant challenges, as 1 in 4 reported threats of physical violence, 4 in 10 experienced orchestrated disinformation campaigns, 1 in 4 had mental health impacts, and 1 in 10 reported online violence to the police.

In East Africa, the civic space is shrinking, especially for women journalists and media workers who encounter gender-based violence such as stigmatization, sexist hate speech, trolling, physical assault, rape, and even murder. These threats not only affect their well-being but also impede their work and press freedom. For example, in Uganda, many women journalists refrain from reporting critical stories about the government due to fears of attacks and harassment.

In response to these issues, the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC), with support from UNESCO, initiated a research project examining gender-specific aspects of journalist safety using UNESCO’s Journalists Safety Indicators (JSI) in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This research aimed to shed light on the challenges faced by women journalists and promote a safer environment for media professionals in the region. You can find more details in the linked reports.