ARTICLE 19 is deeply alarmed by the alleged rape of a woman journalist in Bangladesh on 18 March. This alleged heinous crime is yet another harsh reminder of the discriminatory and disproportionately dire conditions in which women journalists must carry out their work in Bangladesh. According to available reports, individuals persuaded the journalist to go to a location on the pretense of her being able to gather newsworthy information; when she arrived at the location, she was then attacked by several men.
These attacks are part of the persistent and growing threats and violence women journalists face. ARTICLE 19 calls for an immediate, transparent, and impartial investigation that considers the gendered aspects of this and all attacks, in particular, the sexualised nature of them and the potential connection between journalistic activities and gendered attacks. Redress must be part of authorities’ responses to these types of attacks. This means that authorities must respond to this attack, and all similar attacks, with the aim of holding those responsible for the crime to account, provide adequate, effective and prompt reparation for harm suffered, and put measures in place to prevent these types of attacks from taking place in future.
The attack highlights the growing violence against women and girls in Bangladesh. In recent months, incidents of rape and violence against women have escalated nationwide, including the death last week of an eight-year-old girl after being sexually assaulted in Magura. This and other incidents have sparked widespread public outrage, prompting political parties, socio-cultural organisations, and civil society groups to organise protests demanding an end to violence against women.
The rape on 18 March highlights, too, the escalating dangers confronting journalists in Bangladesh amid a deteriorating state of press freedom in the country. Over the past year, violence against media professionals has surged, with women journalists facing targeted and disproportionate harassment, threats, and physical assaults. The lack of gender-responsive approaches to the safety of journalists coupled with the culture of impunity has emboldened perpetrators, further endangering media workers, particularly women.
Around the world, women journalists face a range of disproportionate gender-based attacks, including rape, sexual assault, death threats, sexual harassment, online trolling, gendered hate speech, disinformation, smear campaigns, and threats to their families. While all journalists are vulnerable to violence, women experience highly sexualised forms of abuse both online and offline. This daily harassment against women journalists significantly and directly undermines the right to freedom of expression and gender equality.
Journalists play a crucial role in upholding democracy, transparency, accountability, and women’s right to equality. The Bangladeshi authorities must ensure that this case does not go unpunished and take concrete measures to safeguard all journalists from gendered violence and intimidation.
ARTICLE 19 stands in solidarity with the rape survivor and with all journalists in Bangladesh who continue to face grave threats while performing their essential duties. We also stand ready to provide recommendations on how to conduct an investigation that ensures that the needs and experiences of women journalists are prioritised and play a central role in the investigative process, as well as how to adopt gender-responsive approaches when facilitating access to justice. ARTICLE 19’s project Equally Safe seeks to strengthen the safety of journalists from a gender and intersectional perspective.