BBC files UN complaint about online violence towards women journalists

The BBC World Service has today, 23 March 2022, filed a new urgent appeal to the United Nations (UN) against Iran over the online violence faced by women journalists working for BBC News Persian.

Women journalists at BBC News Persian face daily, relentless online attacks and harassment, including threats of rape and death.

Today’s complaint addresses the current risks to women journalists working for BBC News Persian.

A report by UNESCO in the last year shows online violence towards women is having a chilling effect on women’s reporting and adverse effects on their mental health. UN Experts highlight the extent of online violence towards women journalists, which is pushing women offline and undermining their ability to do their work as journalists, describing it as “gendered censorship”.

The appeal from the BBC World Service calls on Iran to take action in respect of those responsible for the online violence towards women journalists, by investigating and prosecuting them.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC and Jennifer Robinson are instructed by BBC World Service.

Full press release can be found here.