ARIJ and the Jordanian Network to Combat Digital Violence Against Female Journalists, in partnership with Secdev Foundation and Global Project Partners, brought together 55 women journalists from across Jordan on Sunday, 17 May 2026, for an in-person gathering held under the “I Will Not Stay Silent” program.

The event focused on the digital violence faced by women journalists, available forms of protection and redress, and the importance of strengthening solidarity and peer support across the media sector.

The event was led by Rawan Damen, Director General of ARIJ. Rania Alsarayreh, coordinator of the Jordanian Network to Combat Digital Violence Against Female Journalists, also addressed participants, highlighting the network’s role and the importance of collective support for women journalists facing digital violence. Following the opening remarks, Farah Jallad, ARIJ’s Senior Editor and Coach, presented an overview of the causes and effects of online gender-based violence (GBV), drawing on regional patterns and the experiences of journalists working in Jordan and across the region.

Throughout the session, journalists emphasized that while online gender-based violence can affect many people, women journalists face specific and disproportionate forms of digital harm because of their gender, visibility, and professional role.

A central part of the event was a panel discussion titled “Women Journalists: Through Their Eyes and Voices. The panel featured four journalists who addressed different dimensions of violence and pressure affecting women in the profession. Tala Ayoub spoke about the hidden toll of legal violence against mothers and its impact on families and children. Amal Breikeh presented “Fishnet,” reflecting on the different prices women journalists in Gaza are paying during the war. Farah Aldra’awi discussed digital violence as a daily reality for women working in Jordanian newsrooms, while Laila Khaled addressed digital violence as one of the costs increasingly associated with being a journalist.

The Jordanian Network to Combat Digital Violence Against Female Journalists, which co-convened the event, was established to document the digital violence faced by women journalists in Jordan, build collective protection mechanisms, and advocate for clearer forms of redress at the legal, institutional, and platform levels. Its work includes peer-to-peer support, capacity-building on digital safety, evidence-based advocacy, and the production of data on the experiences of women journalists in Jordanian newsrooms.

Discussions continued during a collective breakfast, where participants shared professional and personal experiences of digital, legal, workplace, and social pressures. The conversation highlighted the persistent negative attitudes directed at working women and women journalists in particular, while also underscoring a shared commitment to continue reporting, investigating, and participating actively in public life.

Participants also called for more safe spaces that allow women journalists to exchange experiences, strengthen professional relationships, and build regional networks of support.

ARIJ reaffirmed its commitment to developing IWNSS as a community-driven program that responds to the real threats facing women journalists and translates these discussions into concrete work on protection, advocacy, and peer support.