A/HRC/44/52 considerably lower than that of their male counterparts but the ratio of women journalists killed to the overall number of women in the media is not available. For each killing of a woman journalist, it would be important to conduct an analysis of such cases from a human rights and gender perspective, in order to determine whether there was a gender motive that would lead to the killing being classified as femicide, in line with the categories proposed by the Special Rapporteur in her 2016 report on the modalities for the establishment of a “watch” system for femicide or gender-related killings (see A/71/398). Depending on the circumstance, such killings could also fall under the category of intimate partner- or familyrelated femicide. 24. In addition to killings, sexual violence, including sexual assault and rape, and in particular the threat of rape, continue to be used as a form of gender-based violence and as a tool to undermine the credibility of women journalists and discourage them from working in the media. Many women media workers have reportedly experienced sexual violence in relation to their work, with the most frequently recounted act being unwanted touching of a sexual manner.18 25. In 2011, while reporting on a protest, Lara Logan, a correspondent for CBS News, was violently separated from her crew and security by a mob of men who proceeded to brutally sexually assault her and almost kill her. She has recently spoken up about her ordeal and her experience of being a survivor of sexual assault while reporting. She is now challenging the way in which the media covers such attacks.19 26. Another woman journalist, who was also reporting from on a protest was gang-raped in broad daylight, while in November 2012, a young student journalist was also gang-raped in while making a documentary on women’s rights.20 In January 2020, several protesters mobbed a female freelance journalist. The aggressors reportedly threatened her with rape before pursuing her and continuing the attack by shaking her car while she was inside it. 21 27. Other tools that are used to dishonour, disgrace and humiliate women journalists include fabricated reports of rape and sexual violence. Women journalists who relate their stories of sexual violence often have their testimonies queried, disregarded as false or seen as an attempt to self-promote. 28. Beyond the threat of ill-treatment and even torture, many women journalists in detention also face threats of rape and sexual violence. At the time of writing, 27 women journalists were being detained across the world, with many being held in appalling conditions. 22 Of those detained, many have faced sexual harassment and threats of rape during police interrogation, while those enduring detention under conservative regimes have been rejected by family and friends who believe they were raped in prison. 29. While only a few cases of sexual assault against women journalists have ever been documented, many women journalists are now speaking up and recounting their testimonies. Some of those testimonies have been documented in recent years and many of the assaults have been found to fall into three general categories: targeted sexual violation of specific journalists, often in reprisal for their work; mob-related sexual violence against journalists covering public events; and sexual abuse of journalists in detention or captivity.23 18 19 20 21 22 23 See, for example, International Women’s Media Foundation and International News Safety Institute, “Violence and harassment against women in the news media: a global picture” (2014). See Annabelle Sreberny, “Violence against women journalists”, available at www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/publications/gamag_research_agenda _sreberny.pdf. See Reporters without Borders, “Women’s rights: forbidden subject” (2018). See www.huffingtonpost.fr/2019/01/13/menacee-de-viol-par-des-gilets-jaunes-une-journalisteraconte_a_23641318/. See Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, “RSF marks International Women’s Day with call to release detained female journalists”, 7 March 2019. See Committee to Protect Journalists, “The silencing crime: sexual violence and journalists”, 7 June 2011. 7