Qatar Expresses Concern over Women Journalists in Arab World Being Targeted for Practicing Journalism, Being Women

Qatar Expresses Concern over Women Journalists in Arab World Being Targeted for Practicing Journalism, Being Women

Geneva / Information Office / July 08

The State of Qatar expressed Wednesday deep concern that journalists in the Arab world are being targeted for practicing the profession of journalism and for basically being women, in addition to being subjected to death, kidnapping and threat, as well as being defamed on social media platforms by the so-called social bugs of some countries.

This came in the speech that was delivered by Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in Geneva Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Suwaidi, in the interactive dialogue with Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the violence against women, its causes and consequences.

Al Suwaidi expressed Qatar's strong condemnation that journalists, especially women, are being subjected to harassment, abuse, threats, defamation and fabrication of false news, as well as violence that sometimes reaches the point of killing, with the aim of undermining their credibility, silencing and discouraging them from practicing journalism or addressing specific topics.

The State of Qatar pays great attention to the issue of freedom of expression as a basic human right, he explained, stressing the need to protect journalists and ensure their right of freedom of opinion and expression, and that no restrictions should be placed except within the framework permitted by international standards. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that journalist and the media provide accurate news coverage to help raise awareness that can save many lives, especially at a time when the world is facing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Concluding his speech, Al Suwaidi called on countries to fulfill their responsibilities to ensure the protection of journalists, including women journalists, and to hold those responsible for violations and crimes accountable and to ensure that they have access to appropriate remedies.