Joint statement: Attacks on women in media in Pakistan
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Vicious attacks through social media are being directed at women journalists and commentators in Pakistan, making it incredibly difficult for us to carry out our professional duties.
The target of these attacks are women with differing viewpoints and those whose reports have been critical of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s government, and more specifically its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The online attacks are instigated by government officials and then amplified by a large number of Twitter accounts, which declare their affiliation to the ruling party.
In what is certainly a well-defined and coordinated campaign, personal details of women journalists and analysts have been made public. To further discredit, frighten and intimidate us, we are referred to as peddlers of “fake news”, “enemy of the people” and accused of taking bribes (often termed as "paid" journalists or lifafas).
In some instances, our pictures and videos have also been morphed.
Women in the media are not only targeted for their work, but also their gender. Our social media timelines are then barraged with gender-based slurs, threats of sexual and physical violence. These have the potential to incite violence and lead to hate crimes, putting our physical safety at risk.
Lately, there have also been attempts to hack into the social media accounts of reporters and analysts, as well as limit our access to information. In some cases, journalists have been locked out of their social media accounts as a result of hacking attempts.
Women in the media, especially those on social media platforms, are finding it increasingly difficult to remain on these platforms and engage freely. Many now self-censor, refrain from sharing information, giving their opinion or actively engaging online.
These sustained attacks undermine public trust in journalism and go against the basic tenets of democracy. It is a public right to access accurate and reliable information, especially during a public health emergency.
We are being prevented from exercising our right to free speech and participate in public discourse. When we self-censor, others are prevented from receiving information to form their views, which is a violation of their rights under Article 19-A.
When attacks and threats are made against us, we do not enjoy the protection of the law as guaranteed under Article 4, and this is the direct result of the actions of those who hold positions in government and are affiliated with the PTI.
Last July, Shireen Mazari, the minister for human rights, promised to take notice of threats against journalists and to address the climate of abuse, bullying, fear and censorship. Ms. Mazari, we are waiting.
We demand that the government:
1) Immediately restrain its members from repeatedly targeting women in the media
2) Send out a clear message to all party members, supporters and followers, to desist from launching these attacks, whether directly or indirectly
3) Hold all such individuals within the government accountable and take action against them
We also call upon the Standing Committees on Human Rights of the upper and lower house of parliament to take notice and hold the government accountable by ensuring they acknowledge, apologize and list the actions they will now take to put an end to such a threatening environment.
Signed by:
Mehmal Sarfraz
Benazir Shah
Amber Shamsi
Zebunnisa Burki
Ramsha Jahangir
Asma Shirazi
Ayesha Bakhsh
Gharidah Farooqi
Aleena Farooq Sheikh
Alia Chughtai
Reema Omer
Nazrana Yousafzai
Tanzeela Mazhar
Munizae Jahangir
Farhat Javed
Nasim Zehra
Aima Khosa
Mehreen Zahra-Malik
Farieha Aziz
Coalition For Women in Journalism
Kamila Hyat
Rabia Mehmood
Reem Khurshid
Qurratulain (Annie) Zaman
Marium Chaudhry
Nosheen Abbas
The International Coalition for Women in Journalism
Ailia Zehra
Najia Ashar
Sadaf Khan
R Umaima Ahmed
Umber Khairi
Muna Khan
Kiran Nazish
Afia Salam
Lubna Jerar Naqvi
Maheen Usmani
Sana Bucha
Ailia Zahra
Naziha Syed Ali
Rehana Hakim
Aysha Raja
Nida Kirmani
Sarah Atiq
Fauzia Yazdani
Sameen Mohsin
Aisha Sarwari
Meera Ghani
Nighat Dad
Farahnaz Ispahani
Saba Ismail
Gulalai Ismail
Afshan Masab
Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights
Women’s Action Forum, Lahore
Women’s Action Forum, Karachi
Iqra Haris
Maheen Pracha
Zohra Yusuf
Tasneem Ahmar
Nadia Malik
Laiba Zainab
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
Sairah Irshad Khan
Neelam Aslam
Sara Malkani
Seemal Hashmi
Sara Ilyas
Aimen Siddiqui
Beena Sarwar
Saba Gul
Fatima Zaidi
Women Lawyers Association (WLA)
Sadia Kamal
Shazia Nayyar
Sabahat Khan
Afshan Qureshi
Naila Naeem
Aneela Shaheen
Aneela Ashraf
Nargis Janjua
Farha Naz
Shamim Ashraf
Shazia Tahir
Ayesha Naz
Aqsa Junejo
Shaista Yousuf
Khadeeja Siddiqui
Farwa Waheed
Ramish Fatima
Aleena Alavi
Batul Rajpoot
Maham Ali
Women Democratic Front
Rubina Saigol
Nasreen Siddiqi
Zunaira Saqib
Moneeza Ahmed
Zofeen Ebrahim
Zaryab Rajpoot
Anis Haroon
Wajiha Hyder
Women's Action Forum - Islamabad
Beenish Javed
Tahira Abdullah
Gulmeenay Sethi
Ayesha Khan
Aurat March Lahore
Tania Saeed
Angbeen Mirza
Sadaf Aziz
Women Democratic Front
Saba Hamid
Khawar Mumtaz
Tooba Syed
Zoya rehman
Khushbakht Sohai
Xenia Mehsud
Laila Raza
Kainat Mujahid
Areej Hussain
Anam Rathore
Marha Fathma
Shajea Sultan
Tanveer Jehan
Nighat Said Khan
Memoona Rauf
Maria Rashid
Nasrene Shah
Kausar S Khan
Women’s Action Forum, Hyderabad
Aiman Rizvi
Haniya Mansoor
Aabida Ali
Ilma Zuberi
Zainab Husain
Baresham Ali Khan
Sana Naqvi
Sheema Kermani
Tehrik-e-Niswan
