UN agency reports rise in violence against women journalists and activists linked to online abuse

World Body Sounds Alarm as Online Abuse Leaves Journalists and Activists on the Brink.

The United Nations has issued a stark warning, revealing that nearly three-quarters of women in the journalism community have faced violent online abuse. A disturbing trend is emerging, where digital harassment has escalated into real-world attacks, leaving many feeling vulnerable to intimidation.

According to the latest report from UN Women and its partners, the statistics are alarming. Over 40% of these female journalists, rights defenders, and activists reported being victims of physical harm linked to their online activities. The study found that two-thirds of women in this field have experienced some form of violence or abuse while working.

As a key figure at the Centre for Journalism and Democracy, Julie Posetti shed light on the findings of this research. It is clear that the current state of affairs has left many concerned about the safety and well-being of these individuals.

The alarming rise in online harassment and real-world violence points to a pressing need for urgent action from governments, organizations, and communities worldwide. Until we see tangible efforts to address these issues, many more journalists and activists will continue to be targeted and silenced by those who seek to intimidate them.

omg i feel so bad 4 all the female journalists & activists out there!! this is literally crazy that they're facing such violent online abuse & it's escalating into real-life threats i mean, can't we just get along & respect each other's opinions without resorting to hate? but seriously, it's so important for governments & orgs 2 take action & create a safe space 4 these women (and men!) 2 express themselves without fear of reprisal i've seen some of the tweets & stories that are being shared online about this issue and it's truly eye-opening... we need 2 come together & support each other

this is so messed up I mean, can't we just keep the online world safe for everyone? it's crazy that nearly 3/4 of women in journalism are getting bullied online & some even got physical harm . like, what's next? we need to come together as a global community to stop this kind of abuse & protect these brave individuals who just wanna share their stories & make a difference

I'm getting really frustrated with the way our online spaces are being used to bully people into silence . As someone who's passionate about free speech and democracy, it breaks my heart to see women in journalism and activism facing this kind of abuse . It's not just about them, either - it's about all of us, because if we can't feel safe online, how are we supposed to have open conversations about the issues that matter? We need better protections for journalists and activists, and for regular people who just want to express themselves without fear of reprisal . The UN's report is a wake-up call, but I hope it's not just a warning sign - let's turn this into action !

This is so frustrating! It's wild that three-quarters of women in journalism are facing online abuse - like, what even is the point of reporting on important stories if they're just gonna get harassed all day? And it's not just online - we've got physical attacks happening too... that's straight up scary. I mean, we need to take a serious hard look at why this is happening and how we can stop it. It's like, we're living in the digital age, but our safety net is basically non-existent?

OMG, this is getting so out of hand!!! Like, I'm super pro-feminism and all, but how can we even stop this?!? The stats are crazy - 40% of women in journalism and activism have faced physical harm?! That's like, what's next?! They need to step up their game ASAP! As a fan of UN Women, I was expecting more concrete plans from them on this one... I mean, we've seen some initiatives before, but this is like, on a whole different level . Can't we just have a safe and supportive online community?!

I mean, on the one hand, it's totally unacceptable that nearly three-quarters of women in journalism are facing online abuse - like, what kind of society allows this to happen? But on the other hand, can we really blame these journalists for being a bit too outspoken or provocative online? I mean, they're already dealing with some pretty heavy stuff, so maybe they just get a little too caught up in the moment... And don't even get me started on physical harm - isn't that like, a pretty extreme reaction to someone sharing their opinions online? Still, I guess you can see how this kind of abuse can escalate into real-world attacks... it's just really sad. We need to do something about it, but maybe we should also consider why these women are being targeted in the first place?

I'm not surprised at all that online abuse is taking it's toll on women in journalism . I mean, when you think about it, who needs that kind of stress and anxiety in their life? It's like they're just trying to do their job and spread the word, but some people can't even handle a little criticism . And now we're seeing real-world attacks? That's just ridiculous . I'm all for giving these women a platform, but come on, someone needs to take responsibility for this . Maybe if they just used some common sense and kept their mouths shut, none of this would be happening . But no, instead we're seeing a full-blown crisis that's just begging for some serious intervention . I'm not holding my breath though, but it's about time someone did something about it .

Ugh, another reason to love living in the digital age . I mean, who doesn't love being stalked online? It's not like we're already drowning in a sea of misinformation or anything... anyway, it's super concerning that these women are facing such brutal violence over just doing their job or speaking out on issues they care about. Like, can't we just have a safe and respectful online space without having to worry about being doxxed or assaulted? I guess not, right?

can't believe the state of online discourse anymore ...like, i'm all for free speech and all, but come on! you can't just bully someone into silence and expect them to keep posting away like it's no big deal . newsflash: it is a big deal when ppl get hurt (literally) over stuff they're online about. something's gotta give here...gotta be more accountability for those who are getting all salty online

this is totally unacceptable, i mean, can't we just treat each other with kindness online? it's getting to the point where people are literally feeling threatened in real life because of comments or tweets they made online... it's crazy! and what's even more worrying is that it's not just women who are being targeted, but also men who are speaking out against injustices. we need to come together as a society to create a culture where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of their profession or platform

omg the stats on online abuse are literally mindblowing 3/4 of women in journalism are being harassed and it's getting real like they're not even safe in their own homes this is soooo scary i feel bad for all the journalists & activists who have to deal with this every day we need to do something about this ASAP! governments & orgs need to step up & make some changes

63% of women in journalism are facing online abuse? That's just crazy! I mean, it's like they're getting bombarded with hate messages and threats all day long... no wonder they're feeling vulnerable to real-life attacks! What's even more alarming is that 40% have reported physical harm. Like, what can be done to stop this?! We need urgent action from governments, orgs, and communities worldwide to tackle online harassment and make journalists and activists feel safe again... but it's not just about them, it's also about us as citizens! The numbers are staggering - 2/3 of women in journalism have experienced some form of violence or abuse? That's a full-blown epidemic!

Here's a rough breakdown:

* 63% of women in journalism facing online abuse
* 40% reported physical harm
* 2/3 of women in journalism experiencing some form of violence or abuse
* 45% of women in journalism reporting feeling anxious or depressed due to online harassment (Source: UN Women & partners)

Stats are pretty much saying the same thing - we're at a crisis point here! We need to do something, like, ASAP!

I'm like so worried about all these women getting hurt online and in real life . I mean, isn't there like a law against bullying or something? Why can't the gov just make it super clear that this stuff won't be tolerated? And what's going on with social media companies, they're supposed to protect us, right? But it seems like they're just turning a blind eye. I've had some weird comments left on my blog before, but I don't think I'd want to be targeted like that . Can we please do something about this soon?

this is getting outta hand fam online abuse is literally becoming a real-life thing now and it's crazy how some ppl think they can just threaten or hurt others online and then no one does anything about it we need more accountability on the platforms these journalists and activists are using, like social media and online publishing sites, to report and block abusive users ASAP

I'm getting super frustrated with this online abuse thingy . It's like, can't we just have a decent conversation on the internet without resorting to threats and violence? I mean, I get that there are some crazy people out there, but it's not fair to the rest of us who just wanna share our thoughts and opinions. And it's getting to the point where journalists and activists are literally living in fear of their online activities . It's like, they're doing their job, reporting on important issues, and this is how they get repaid? It's a total shame and we need to do something about it ASAP . Governments and organizations gotta step up and create some real change, 'cause as long as we just sit back and do nothing, these people will keep getting hurt .

omg is this still happening in 2025?? i cant even imagine having to deal with that kinda stuff online or offline its like they say no one knows the truth but apparently some ppl really care about silencing others what can be done to stop this? are there any orgs that are working on this? shouldnt our govs be doing more? i mean we have so many resources and technology at our disposal but still we cant seem to keep these ppl safe online

Ugh I'm literally shaking thinking about this it's so frustrating that women in journalism are being held hostage by online trolls... I mean what's the point of having freedom of speech if you can't express yourself without getting harassed or even hurt? The fact that 2/3 of women in this field have experienced some form of violence is just not okay we need to take a stand and support these individuals, instead of just talking about it. We should be pushing for better laws and more resources to protect them, not just patting ourselves on the back for doing the bare minimum

This is such a sad state of affairs... I mean, can you even believe that women in journalism are being physically harmed just for doing their job? It's like they're not even humans anymore, but targets on the internet . The fact that 40% of them have been victims of physical harm just because of online activities is just heartbreaking.

And what really gets me is that this isn't even a new issue, it's been escalating for years... but still we don't see any real change happening. It's like we're all just standing around watching while these brave women are being silenced and hurt . I mean, what can we do? We could try to raise awareness, maybe, but at the end of the day, it's not like anyone is actually listening or taking action .

I guess what it comes down to is that we need to be more empathetic towards these women... and towards everyone who's being targeted online. We need to start treating each other with kindness and respect, even if we disagree . Otherwise, we're just going to keep seeing this trend of violence and harassment continue .

I cant believe its coming to this online abuse is literally taking over the lives of so many journalists & activists its not just about free speech anymore its about safety & protection they need us to stand up for them NOW we cant just sit back & watch while these strong women are being bullied & threatened its time for us all to make a change let's create a culture where online abuse is taken seriously & those who perpetrate it face real consequences