Safeguarding Women Journalists to Enhance Media Freedom, Security, and Democracy: MFC at the Warsaw OSCE Human Dimension Conference

From October 6-17, 2025, The Warsaw Human Dimension Conference 2025 took place from October 6-17, organized by the 2025 OSCE Finnish Chairpersonship in Warsaw, Poland. On 8 October, the Media Freedom Coalition’s two co-chairs Finland and Germany and the Coalition’s Secretariat, organised a side session which explored three interconnected themes that highlight the critical role of women journalists in promoting media freedom and democratic resilience.

First, the session examined how ensuring the freedom of women journalists to report without interference is essential to upholding media freedom itself. Second, the panel addressed the wide-ranging threats faced by women journalists—both online and offline, in newsrooms and in the field. Particular attention was given to journalists reporting on gender-related issues, such as gender-based violence, who often face intensified risks. Finally, the discussion focused on concrete actions that governments and institutions can take to enhance the safety of women journalists. The discussion emphasized the deep links between press freedom, democratic governance, and societal security, with a focus on the particular challenges facing women journalists.