The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) has partnered with the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) to present a groundbreaking policy brief titled “Safeguarding Women Journalists in Digital Spaces.”
The event brought together stakeholders from the media, civil society, and government to address the growing concerns surrounding the safety of women journalists in the digital era.
“We recognize the critical role women journalists play in shaping narratives and holding power to account,” KEWOPA stated. “No woman should be silenced or intimidated because of her work. We will continue working alongside AMWIK and other partners to ensure digital spaces are safer, inclusive, and empowering for women media professionals.”
The policy brief sheds light on the alarming rise in online violence targeting women in media — including cyberbullying, doxxing (the public release of private information), and gender-based hate speech.
These attacks not only undermine freedom of expression but also threaten the mental health, career advancement, and physical safety of affected journalists.
Crucially, the brief identifies significant legal and institutional gaps that leave women journalists vulnerable to digital abuse, citing weak enforcement mechanisms, limited gender sensitivity in existing cyber laws, and inadequate support systems for victims.
In response, the policy document outlines several key recommendations, including:
- Comprehensive legal reforms to explicitly address online gender-based violence.
- Gender-responsive budgeting to support digital safety initiatives.
- Access to psychosocial support services for affected journalists.
- Stronger institutional coordination among media regulators, law enforcement, and civil society organizations.
KEWOPA fully supports these recommendations and reaffirmed its commitment to championing legislative and policy reforms that ensure safe working environments for all women in the media industry.
This collaboration marks a significant step toward creating a media landscape in Kenya where women can thrive, both online and offline, free from fear and harassment.
