Gender-based violence against journalists in Brazil continues in a downward trend, but the numbers still worry press advocates.
According to the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji), as of November 2024, 71 cases had been recorded, the lowest rate since monitoring began in 2021. Despite this, the seriousness of the attacks remains high, especially defamatory speech and systematic campaigns of attack that directly impact the performance and safety of professionals.
The organization defines gender-based violence as “when sexual, gender identity and related elements are used to hurt and offend.”
The data reveals that 43.6% of cases involved stigmatizing speech, with 16.1% coming from public figures or authorities. Women represent 97% of victims, with a concentration of attacks aimed at reporters and analysts (88.7%), especially those involved in political coverage.
“Women have advanced in the profession, within newsrooms, and achieved prominent positions, but they face attacks that seek to discredit them and remove them from these roles,” Maiá Menezes, deputy director of Abraji and coordinator of the gender report, told LatAm Journalism Review (LJR).
For perspective, the number of women in top editorial positions in 2024 in Brazil is just 23%, according to a report from the Reuters Institute.
In this year’s survey, Abraji also identified an increase in reports related to virtual violence, including attacks on social networks and campaigns orchestrated by robots.
Abraji’s research also reveals an increase in cases of attacks against journalists who reported gender-based violence.
Abraji's first survey on the topic was produced between 2019 and 2020, in partnership with Gênero e Número, a media organization that focuses on gender and race. At the time, the research was broader and also dealt with the journalism ecosystem and the place of women.
Released in 2021, the first report showed 119 gender-based attacks related to the profession. In the following year, the last of Bolsonaro's government, 145 episodes were recorded. In 2023, there was a reduction of 43.4%, with 82 records of gender-related attacks in Brazil.
Vitória Régia da Silva, director of Gênero e Número, said there are structural socio-cultural challenges that affect women in society and are reflected in journalistic work.
“The dynamics of violence against women are related to power dynamics, and they do not want to be seen in this position of victim, they do not want to be known or marked by issues of violence,” Silva told LJR. “They prefer the impact of the scoop and reporting.”
Gender-based attacks, she said, seek to discredit and victimize journalists.
“Even if violence seems occasional, it has profound impacts on mental health and the ability to continue work”, Silva said.
Bárbara Libório, a journalist specializing in investigation, data and visualization from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, and content coordinator at feminist magazine AzMina, highlights that gender violence in journalism aims to silence.
“Every time a journalist needs to defend herself from attacks, or find ways to stay safe, it is time that she could be working and producing relevant information for society,” Libório told LJR. “It is a violent strategy to silence and directly affects your health, takes your time and physical, mental and time resources. It’s not simply to attack. They are afraid to continue doing their work.”
Although there has been a drop in the absolute number of reported cases, organizations warn of the risk of complacency. At a time when anti-democratic rhetoric is growing, the challenge is to guarantee protection and support mechanisms that allow journalists to carry out their work safely.
“Journalism works from a perspective of democracy and human rights. But as long as we live with women being routinely attacked, society will not achieve the democracy that we defend within journalism. Politicians who attack women journalists are not part of a democratic country,” da Silva said.
In addition to harassment outside the newsroom, there are many reports of cases within the workplace. Menezes highlights that, despite advances, there is still an organizational culture that naturalizes harassment and inequality.
“Even women who came to power reported that they did not realize the abuse they suffered, whether from bosses, sources or colleagues. Invasive questions like 'Will you get pregnant again?' or inappropriate comments are common,” Menezes said. “We are working to ensure that this is no longer tolerated, and Abraji’s DNA includes this fight.”
