Reporters Without Borders confirmed an increase in the deprivation of female journalists of their freedom by 35% compared to last year, while the number of journalists arrested in the world reached 387 at the end of 2020. The organization said in a report that showed the annual outcome for 2020, today, that the number of “deprived of their freedom” is currently 42 women, compared to 31 in 2019, an increase of 35%.
The organization’s Secretary-General, Christophe Delaware, said in a statement that “women who are increasing in number in the profession are not immune” from the arrests.
In all, 17 female journalists have been imprisoned during the past year, among them four in Belarus “which is witnessing unprecedented repression” since the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994.
The organization’s annual report also showed that the number of detained journalists in the world reached 387 at the end of 2020, and Reporters Without Borders stressed in its report that “the number of detained journalists in the world remains at a record high level.”
According to the organization, Syria ranks fifth in the world in terms of the number of detainees (27) journalists, while China ranks first with (117), followed by Saudi Arabia (34), Egypt (30), and Vietnam (28).
The organization reported that the detention of journalists as hostages decreased by 5%, and revealed that “at least 54 journalists are currently being held hostage in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.
She indicated that four journalists have disappeared in 2020, and they are from the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.
It is reported that Reporters Without Borders counted 389 journalists arrested in 2019 for reasons related to practicing the profession.