Rise in Female Journalists Accompanied by Alarming Violations

PUKMEDIA

Female Channel 8 reporter, whose microphone was taken from her by Erbil security forces.

The increasing number of women entering the journalism sector in the Kurdistan Region has been accompanied by a surge in violations, injuries and dismissals over the past 10 months, the President of the Reporters Organization for Rights & Developments (RORD) has warned, describing the situation as “dangerous”.

Speaking to PUKMEDIA, RORD President Hozan Qadir, said recent statistics show a troubling pattern.

“Over the first 10 months of 2025, six women journalists were subjected to violations, and five of them were injured by tear gas while on duty,” he said.

Qadir added that 35 women journalists were dismissed during the same period, some of them by personal decision by their managers.

Despite growing challenges, the participation of women in the media continues to rise. According to the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, more than 1,500 women journalists are currently employed across various media outlets, with the number increasing each year.



PUKMEDIA