Kosovo Report: Most Women Journalists Have Experienced Online Harassment

Online harassment and abuse targeting women working in the media in Kosovo remain a concerning problem. According to the data, 61 percent of the women who took part in the survey said they had faced such forms of violence while carrying out their profession.

The findings were presented in a report by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK), prepared in cooperation with UNMIK and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. The report is titled “From Analysis to Action: Empowering Women’s Leadership and Combating Gendered Disinformation in Kosovo”.

Getoarbë Mulliqi, executive director of the AGK, described as alarming the percentage of respondents who reported online harassment. She said female journalists often become targets of fake news and attacks motivated by their gender.

“The first figure I want to mention, which is somewhat alarming, is that 61% of the women surveyed stated that they had experienced online abuse or harassment related to their professional work. 61% is a very high figure. Women who have experienced online abuse have reported being targeted with false information related to their gender, and they often say that they were not attacked because of their professional work, but because of their gender, while the personal aspect is always present as well,” Mulliqi said.

Journalist Ardiana Thaqi-Mehmeti said that this summer she had a new experience with online harassment, which she described as more serious than the first case.

“But this latest incident that happened to me this summer was perhaps more serious than the first one. The reason is that I was not prepared to face something like that—not because of fear, but because perhaps I had not dealt in time with the psychological impact, with what had happened inside me during the two years of dealing with the ‘AlbKings’ case, precisely because I am now the parent of two children and have a family that I will not even mention at press conferences,” Thaqi-Mehmeti said.

Aleksandra Jovanović, director of RTK2, said that the report included several ways in which pressure is exerted on female journalists.

“And today’s activity actually shows us that female journalists face online harassment, sexist insults, pressure and attempts at professional degradation,” she said.

Gynesh Veshall, an activist from the Roma community, said that offensive comments on social media are a phenomenon the community has faced for years. According to her, these cases require institutional measures and action.

“For several years now, as a community we have been facing offensive comments on social media, and we have continuously advocated for measures to be taken against such things. We have also had ongoing cooperation with the AGK… For several years now, as a community we have been facing insulting comments on social media, and we have continuously advocated for measures to be taken against such things. We have also had ongoing cooperation with the AGK,” Veshall said.