Announcing the existence of the “Committee to Follow Up on Sexual Harassment of Female Journalists”

The board of directors of the Tehran Province Journalists' Guild announced the official formation of a committee to "track down sexual harassment and support affected journalists." The committee's agenda includes legal, psychological, and media support.

After several months of public exposure to verbal and physical harassment or harassment of women in the media workplace in Iran, and the narratives and documents that were presented, especially in cyberspace, the Tehran Province Journalists' Guild announced the formation of a committee to follow up on the cases and support the victims.

The association's Telegram channel states that the aforementioned committee, with the presence of two members, several lawyers, a psychiatrist, and a veteran journalist, was activated about two months ago, and its main goal is to "educate and define the subject," and if necessary, to guide referring colleagues, provide various consultations, and, to the extent possible, examine specific cases: "The goal of this committee is not to find the truth, because this is more a matter of professional capabilities and qualifications."

The association noted that the formation of this committee, the investigation of the extent of harassment and harassment, and the support of the victims were delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The association's public relations statement emphasizes that in certain cases, the "principle of confidentiality and protection of personal rights" will prevail, while at the same time reminding that the issue of harassment of female reporters and journalists is not specific to Iran.

The association calls on colleagues who have been subjected to sexual harassment and abuse and who have been harmed to participate, emphasizing that their names will remain confidential: "The principle of confidentiality will prevail at all stages. Unless the interested parties request the publication of certain information about themselves, in which case the organization and publication of the information will be determined and carried out by the committee in accordance with legal principles and ethical standards."

In recent weeks, 23 Iranian female journalists have issued a statement acknowledging and confirming cases of harassment and assault, including the stories related to the former political editor of Shargh newspaper, and have called on victims of harassment to break their silence and not back down. They said they expect media officials to not turn a blind eye to these behaviors and hold perpetrators and abusers accountable.

Mahboobeh Hosseinzadeh, Solmaz Ikder, Mahtab Gholizadeh, Ghoncheh Ghavami, and Moloud Hajizadeh are among the signatories of this statement.

Ban: DW