On Sunday, a panel on sexual harassment in journalism was held in Bogotá as part of the Society Interamericana de Prensa (SIP). The discussion featured Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya, journalist Claudia Palacios, former special rapporteur on Freedom of Expression for the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) Catalina Botero, and Bibiana Aído, regional director for UN Women for the Americas and the Caribbean and former Spanish Minister of Equality. Palacios recounted that early in her career colleagues did not address her by name but instead referred to her as “la tetoncita.” She described how remarks such as “What does he have to do with you being beautiful?” and “Give him sunglasses so he can’t see what he’s doing” were dismissed as jokes. Palacios said she initially accepted the behavior as part of the profession until she recognized it as harassment. She added that when she later held a managerial position, she refused to dismiss a complaint from a young colleague by labeling it normal, stating that any female journalist in the audience would have heard the same experience. Moderator Graciela Rock emphasized the need to speak openly about the problem and to transform the practices that perpetuate it. She noted that many journalists would respond with “I’ve been there too.” Botero highlighted the process initiated by Caracol Televisión after allegations against two well‑known journalists. The channel terminated the contracts of the accused and established a commission to investigate the incidents and prevent future cases. Botero stressed that protocols alone are insufficient if they are not taken seriously inside the organization. “A good protocol is useless if no one inside takes it seriously,” she warned. Bedoya called for media outlets to adopt international standards that recognize the differentiated violence faced by women journalists. She said that ensuring their rights is essential for free reporting and high‑quality journalism. Bedoya also revealed that she filed a complaint with the Fiscalía three months ago against a 25‑year‑old journalist at El Tiempo, who was alleged to have harassed interns and other reporters. Aído, who has experience as a minister of equality, warned that harassment and violence against journalists are not isolated incidents but can serve as mechanisms of silencing. She cited data indicating that 45 % of journalists self‑censor in response to digital attacks. Aído called for data, resources, and the willingness of leadership to address the issue, noting that violence affects not only the direct victim but also other women who witness the consequences of reporting. All participants agreed that breaking the silence is insufficient without institutional response. They called for editorial teams to stop justifying inappropriate comments, for complaints to be heard without prejudice, and for women to be supported so they do not have to defend themselves alone in order to perform their work.
Article source: El Nuevo Diario | Image credit: El Nuevo Diario