OSCEs Parlamentariske Forsamling 2021-22
OSCE Alm.del Bilag 17
Offentligt
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Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Representative on Freedom of the Media
Teresa Ribeiro
Vienna, 25 March 2022
Dear Members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly!
It is my pleasure to invite you to participate in a Questionnaire on the Safety of Female
Journalists Online: the role of Parliamentary action. The questionnaire, a joint initiative by the
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, aims at
identifying and advocating better preventive and protective mechanisms for female journalists
within the OSCE region. I presented the questionnaire at the 2021 Winter Meeting; you can find
it annexed to this letter and via this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SOFJO-PA.
Equal opportunities to freedom of expression is indispensable for media freedom and the
basis for peace, comprehensive security, and sustainable development. Without diversity or
plurality, however, there can be no democracy. Democratic participation at all levels is possible
only where everyone can both access information about policies, programmes and issues of
public interest, and discuss openly their respective strengths and weaknesses.
Female journalists and parliamentarians share the burden of regularly facing the same
patterns of attacks and threats online, resulting in the worrying trend of contradicting and limiting
pluralism, being fundamental for democracy. Gender-based online attacks regularly aim at
denying women a public voice, leading to self-censorship or worse: women retreating from the
public sphere, depriving all of society of diverse information and inclusive public debates.
Parliamentarians have a fundamental role in ensuring that freedom of expression is
enabled for all, including by holding governments to account, by addressing harassment and
inappropriate behaviour by politicians and public figures, and that ensuring adequate, timely and
effective prevention, protection and prosecution mechanisms are in place for the protection of
journalists.
In 2018, all OSCE participating States committed themselves to improve the safety of
journalists, including by adding a gender perspective to all efforts pertaining to journalists’ safety
and taking effective measures to end impunity for attacks against them.
Wallnerstrasse 6-6a
A - 1010 Vienna, Austria
Telephone
+43-1-514 36 6800
Telefax
+43-1-514 36 6802
E-mail
[email protected]
 OSCE, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 17: Invitation til Joint Web Dialogue on the "Safety of Female Journalists Online: The Role of Parliamentary Action
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Strong responses to online harassment and abuse against women journalists can only be
developed if all different stakeholders, including parliamentarians, have a comprehensive
understanding of the scope of the problem and of its impact on free expression and the free flow
of information.
Based on the results and needs assessment, my Office and the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly will enable an exchange of good practices to foster initiatives for improved regulatory
frameworks and measures for the safety of women journalists. As noted in the email, a first event
will take place on Wednesday, 20 April online (15:00 to 17:00 CET).
We count on your support and co-operation. I would kindly ask you to respond to the
survey by Wednesday, 13 April.
Yours sincerely,
Teresa Ribeiro
Wallnerstrasse 6-6a
A - 1010 Vienna, Austria
Telephone
+43-1-514 36 6800
Telefax
+43-1-514 36 6802
E-mail
[email protected]
 OSCE, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 17: Invitation til Joint Web Dialogue on the "Safety of Female Journalists Online: The Role of Parliamentary Action
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ATTACHMENT
SURVEY ''Safety of Female Journalists Online: the Role of Parliamentary Action''
1) Challenges to the safety of journalists today
On a scale of 1 to 4 (or 5) what do you consider the
most pressing challenges
journalists, in
particular female journalists, face when exercising their profession in your country and/or in your
home constituency? (1 being the least pressing)
Online harassment/abuse (1-5)
Physical violence (1-5)
Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and/or fear of imprisonment (1-
5)
Disinformation and distrust in the media (1-5)
Other:
Optional:
Please provide examples from your country.
2) Protection frameworks ensuring the safety of journalists
Ensuring the safety of journalists requires the existence and implementation of a
legal
framework
that adequately recognizes and protects the right to freedom of expression, media
freedom, equality, and non-discrimination, in line with international commitments.
a. How would you assess the current regulatory framework ensuring the protection of
journalists in your country?
Insufficient
Needing improvement
Sufficient but needing improvement
Quite strong
Very strong
Don’t know
Optional:
Please provide information on existing regulatory frameworks.
b. In your role as MP, have you within the past two years been engaged/spoken out on the
development of new initiatives touching upon the safety of journalists?
Not engaged
Not much engaged
Quite engaged
Very engaged
Part of my day-to-day parliamentary work
Optional:
Please provide examples of such initiatives.
Wallnerstrasse 6-6a
A - 1010 Vienna, Austria
Telephone
+43-1-514 36 6800
Telefax
+43-1-514 36 6802
E-mail
[email protected]
 OSCE, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 17: Invitation til Joint Web Dialogue on the "Safety of Female Journalists Online: The Role of Parliamentary Action
2557892_0004.png
3) Gender-based challenges to women journalists
Similarly to women politicians, two out of three women journalists have experienced online
abuse related to their work.
a. How would you assess the gender-sensitivity in the regulatory framework protecting
journalists from harassment, violence and attacks in your country?
Insufficient
Needing improvement
Sufficient but needing improvement
Quite strong
Very strong
Don’t know
Optional:
Please provide examples of gender-responsive approaches to the safety of
journalists.
b. In your role as MP, have you within the past two years engaged in ensuring a gender-
responsive approach in regard to law-making on freedom of expression and the protection
of journalists?
Not engaged
Not much engaged
Quite engaged
Very engaged
Part of my day-to-day parliamentary work
Optional:
Please provide examples of such engagement.
4) Digital technologies and challenges to freedom of expression online
The internet provides unprecedented opportunities to exercise freedom of expression. Yet,
digital technologies
can facilitate the spread of hateful and targeted campaigns.
a. To your knowledge, has your national legal framework been adapted within the past five
years to strengthen the protection against online harassment and abuse (e.g., by adopting
new legislation, updating existing legislation, etc.)?
Yes, new legislation has been adopted
Yes, existing legislation has been adjusted
No changes have been made
Changes are being considered
Optional:
Please provide examples of existing legal frameworks addressing online
harassment and abuse.
b. In your role as MP, what do you consider the most pressing challenge to ensure freedom
of expression online?
Wallnerstrasse 6-6a
A - 1010 Vienna, Austria
Telephone
+43-1-514 36 6800
Telefax
+43-1-514 36 6802
E-mail
[email protected]
 OSCE, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 17: Invitation til Joint Web Dialogue on the "Safety of Female Journalists Online: The Role of Parliamentary Action
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5) Prevention
In order to effectively address online abuse against female journalists, in addition to strong
protection mechanisms,
preventive measures
are equally important.
a. On a scale of 1 to 5, how supportive are you in dedicating state resources to the
implementation of awareness-raising initiatives, trainings or other prevention activities
on online abuse against female journalists to the following audience groups (1 being least
positive):
Journalists/Journalist associations (1-5)
Media outlets and supervisory boards (1-5)
Law enforcement (1-5)
Judiciary (1-5)
Civil Society (1-5)
Education (1-5)
Other (1-5)
Optional:
Please provide examples of existing preventive measures to enhance the safety of
journalists.
b. In your role as MP, have you within the last two years publicly condemned attacks,
expressed support, and sensitized citizens about the negative impact of attacks against
female journalists?
Yes, very actively
Yes, quite actively
Yes, but I would like to be more active
No, not much actively
No, not actively
c. If yes, please check the boxes of actions you have taken (multiple answers acceptable)
Public condemnation of attacks
Expressed support
Engaged in citizen awareness actions
Engaged with Civil Society Organizations
Raised parliamentary questions to government
Other:
Optional:
Please provide concrete examples.
6) Situational assessment
To what extent do you consider the safety of female journalists, to be a
challenge
in your country
today?
To a very small extent
To a small extent
To a moderate extent
To a large extent
To a very large extent
Wallnerstrasse 6-6a
A - 1010 Vienna, Austria
Telephone
+43-1-514 36 6800
Telefax
+43-1-514 36 6802
E-mail
[email protected]
 OSCE, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 17: Invitation til Joint Web Dialogue on the "Safety of Female Journalists Online: The Role of Parliamentary Action
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7) Follow-up
a. Which country are you from?
b. Please insert your name and email if you are interested in activities within the field of
freedom of expression/safety of journalists and of female journalists in your PA
functions.
Name:
Email:
Wallnerstrasse 6-6a
A - 1010 Vienna, Austria
Telephone
+43-1-514 36 6800
Telefax
+43-1-514 36 6802
E-mail
[email protected]