NEW DELHI, 8 Mar: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) on Friday joined the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in standing with the women journalists in Gaza.
“On this International Women’s Day, we demand their safety and an end to the war and atrocities, including any form of gender-based violence against women,” the IJU said, and urged its state affiliates across the country to stand in solidarity with women journalists in Gaza and provide them with food, warm clothes, press equipment, and women-specific needs.
The IJU further urged its state affiliates to “donate to the IFJ safety fund, using communication PJS-Women’.”
Since the start of the war in Gaza, 98 journalists have died, and among them 13 were women, while others are exposed to the daily lack of safety and security. They have shown tremendous courage to carry out their duties and keep the world informed of the atrocities committed by Israel. However, they have had to pay a heavy price as women, reporters and mothers, it said.
Amid the catastrophic humanitarian situation and the risk of a severe famine, the displaced women of Gaza are living in shelters with their families, struggling to provide safety and protection to their children, fearing for their lives. The lack of privacy, and the poor health and sanitary conditions, including the lack of sanitary pads, have become daily challenges for the women journalists in Gaza.
In a statement, IJU President Geetartha Pathak and its Secretary-General Sabina Inderjit said that “the union salutes the women journalists of Gaza who continue reporting in this horrific war.”
“The union demands an end to this war. The International Criminal Court must investigate the case of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead by the Israeli Army while covering a raid in the occupied West Bank town of Jenin early on 11 May, as well as other Palestinian journalists killed, and urges the world governments to adopt the IFJ’s International convention on the safety and independence of journalists and other media professionals,” they said.