The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) joins the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day 2026 and calls for renewed commitment to the rights, safety and dignity of women across society and within the media profession. The global theme for this year is “Rights. Justice. Action.” For ALL Women and Girls” serves as a stark reminder that despite some progress, women across Africa, including women journalists in particular, continue to face structural barriers that limit their access to justice, equal opportunities and protection under the law.
These challenges are further aggravated by weak implementation of existing laws and a lack of practical action to address systemic discrimination. FAJ stresses that meaningful change requires decisive and concrete measures to dismantle discriminatory laws and practices, strengthen legal protections and confront harmful social norms that continue to marginalise and silence women journalists.
Women journalists remain an essential pillar of Africa’s media landscape. Through their work, they enormously contribute daily to public service journalism, facilitate the public’s right to know and play an important role in promoting democratic accountability and defending human rights. Yet many continue to operate in hostile environments, marked by discrimination, harassment, violence and intimidation. Women journalists frequently face gender-based abuse, threats and targeted attacks, both in the field and across digital platforms. Persistent under-representation of women in editorial leadership and decision-making roles within media organisations exacerbates these challenges.
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In line with this year’s strong focus on rights and justice, FAJ expresses deep concern about the unjust and often precarious working conditions faced by many women journalists across the continent. In numerous media houses, women continue to experience unequal pay, insecure contracts and limited access to professional advancements and leadership opportunities. In several cases, women journalists are assigned to high-risk reporting duties without adequate safety measures, resources or institutional protection. Such conditions undermine professional development and weaken efforts to build fair, inclusive and resilient media institutions. FAJ calls on media owners, editors and managers to take concrete steps to transform newsroom cultures and implement policies that guarantee safe, fair and dignified working conditions for female journalists.
The Federation further urges governments and public institutions across Africa to uphold media freedom and ensure that female journalists can carry out their professional duties without fear of violence, harassment, or intimidation. Justice systems must respond decisively to crimes committed against journalists, including gender-based violence targeting women in the profession. Impunity for attacks against women journalists must end. Protecting women journalists is not only a matter of workplace safety but also a fundamental requirement for safeguarding freedom of expression, strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring diverse voices are represented in public discourse.
FAJ President Omar Faruk Osman emphasised that protecting female journalists and improving their working conditions must become a clear and urgent priority for governments, media institutions and society at large. “Women journalists across Africa continue to demonstrate courage, professionalism and commitment to public service despite facing harassment, violence, discrimination and unsafe working conditions. International Women’s Day must be a moment for action. We must defend the rights of women journalists, demand justice where those rights are violated and take concrete steps to create safe and equitable working environments. Media institutions must guarantee equal opportunities and fair pay, while governments must ensure protection and justice for those who defend the public’s right to know,” he said.
FAJ, which has long maintained a clear mandate to defend and promote the rights of journalists, including women journalists, reaffirms its commitment to advancing gender equality in the media sector. The Federation will continue to work with its affiliates, media organisations and partners to defend women journalists’ rights and promote fair, safe and dignified working conditions throughout the African media landscape.
