By Arasha Soila
Nairobi, Kenya: The Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) has launched a comprehensive report dubbed The Gendered Dimensions of Journalists’ Safety. The study was conducted in 3 East African countries, that is Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda based on the UNESCO Journalists Safety Indicators.
These indicators aim to highlight significant matters that show or impact the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity. The Kenyan report that was launched seeks to provide specific and evidence-based recommendations that will guide policymakers, media organizations, and other actors in the media to address the gaps identified that compromise the safety of journalists in Kenya.
Further, this report is also meant to shed more light on guidelines that will enhance legal and institutional frameworks in Kenya and strengthen the safety of female journalists in support of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of impunity. The report’s key findings state that despite journalism being a critical part of democracy, journalists across all platforms continue paying a high price in their line of duty.
Speaking in Nairobi during the launch, Charity Komujjurizi, Monitoring, and Evaluation Coordinator for AFIC, pointed out that female journalists have been harassed more than their male counterparts. “Female journalists’ reported leaks of confidential information, invasion of their privacy, and other personalized attacks yet men get to enjoy their intellectual rights,” she said. Charity however emphasized that unreported perpetrators are close allies of the media actors which makes it hard for journalists to report these issues.
The report reveals that 78% of female victims do not report sexual harassment cases for fear of losing their jobs. “As the media, we hardly come out to complain and report these cases as the victims themselves do not report the harassment,” Kenya Union of Journalists, Secretary General, Eric Odour observed. He continued by saying that for the matter to be taken action in line with the law, there has to be a complainant.
Rosalia Omungo the Kenya Editors Guild, CEO, also called upon media houses to collaborate so that editors are more sensitized on the need to follow policies in the newsrooms.
“These collaborations are critical for them to understand the work that media does is important and that journalists should be accorded their space to work,” she noted.
The gendered dimensions of the safety of journalists’ reports additionally highlighted that both female and male journalists experience heightened harassment each time they report on investigative stories that unveil scandals related to prominent people like politicians and business people. While newsrooms have anti-harassment policies, more dynamism is needed to put into actual implementation.
The report highlighted some of the key factors of lack affecting safety of Journalists include self censorship, Journalists working without contracts and also meagre pay, safety fo company equipment is prioritized more than the safety of Journalists and sexual harassments in the newsrooms. More harassment seemed to come from Politicians than from Government actors.
Christine Nguku a seasoned media personality and Assistant Director in charge of Training at the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) gave 5 Proposals that would help journalists keep safe “1, Capacity building is needed of gender desks that sensitize on sexual harassment, 2. There’s need to develop a method of framework to monitor gender complaints, 3. gender reporting needs to sit as core for stakeholders and safe reporting structures need to be put in place, 4. There’s need to develop safety indicators for Journalists and 5. During commemorations day like World Press Freedom Day we need to publicize violations against Journalists and make it a Headline” explained Nguku.
AFIC CEO Gilbert Sendugwa noted in Kenya ”There’s a strong link between Media around political power and business power” he said.
A comparison in the Media from Tanzania and Uganda showed that “Newsrooms in Tanzania are manned more by men in that out 50 Editors only 1 was a female Editor. See censorship was more pronounced in Tanzania more than Kenya and Uganda. The was 30% of women who were Editors and in Leadership in Uganda Newsrooms as compared to Kenya, Women are more aggressive in Uganda than Kenya” Charity explained.
AFIC called upon state actors to ensure gender-responsive laws are enacted and implemented. The safety of journalists demands that we look at the bigger picture by pushing for capacity building for gender desks. It is recommended that newsrooms adopt gender-responsive mechanisms to improve the safety of journalists.
Gender responsiveness should be depicted in state institutions that work to promote media freedoms and safety in the country. Safety policies and mechanisms should also be holistic including extending the safety of freelance journalists. Journalists have also been urged to be on the frontline of promoting the safety of fellow journalists by telling and amplifying cases of harassment.
