Ramallah – 8 March 2025: The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) commemorates International Women’s Day, observed on March 8th, as a reaffirmation of the pivotal role played by women worldwide, especially female journalists and media professionals, who continue to carry out their media mission with courage amidst the most challenging circumstances to promote freedom of expression and solidify the values of justice and equality in society.
Female journalists have proven their central role in covering events, conveying the truth, exposing violations, and continuing their media mission under the harshest conditions, particularly during the genocide on the Gaza Strip. According to monitoring and documentation by the MADA Center, a total of 29 Palestinian female journalists were killed during the recent war, and 69 female journalists were victims of crimes and assaults throughout 2024.
Despite the grave risks they faced and continue to face, Palestinian female journalists confronted all forms of violations, including bombing and direct targeting. They lost relatives and colleagues, suffered displacement, and endured psychological pressures, yet they remained steadfast in their work to bring the truth to the world.
On this day, we reaffirm our commitment at MADA to defend the rights of female journalists and protect them from all forms of violations. We emphasize the importance of empowering women in the media sector to ensure a diversity of voices and enrich the journalistic scene with freedom and responsibility. We also stress the need to protect female journalists and guarantee their freedom to work in the media without threat or intimidation, and we call on the international community and human rights organizations to take serious action to hold accountable those responsible for crimes committed against journalists in Palestine.
Despite the progress made, women in the media field continue to face significant challenges, from workplace discrimination to threats and assaults, especially in light of the complex political situations and conflicts that impact press freedom. Therefore, MADA calls for further measures to protect female journalists and ensure a safe environment for them to carry out their work without fear or restrictions, while also promoting policies of equality and providing fair opportunities for women in decision-making positions. We urge official bodies and the international community to take serious steps to protect press freedom and the rights of female journalists.
We pay tribute and express our deep respect and appreciation to all Palestinian women working in the media who continue to carry out their mission with bravery, striving for a free and independent media that reflects the truth with integrity and courage. We affirm that their ongoing struggle is an integral part of the broader fight for freedom of expression and democracy.
