A recent assessment by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has revealed that women journalists in Somalia are facing widespread insecurity, harassment, and workplace exploitation. The survey, which drew on the views of women journalists and media managers in Mogadishu and Somalia's six Federal Member States, found that many women journalists report unsafe working conditions, discrimination, and limited opportunities for career advancement. The study was funded by the European Union and supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
According to the survey, women journalists across Somalia are often underpaid, inadequately protected, and marginalised in newsrooms. The report stated that just about 10 per cent of the respondents felt safe at work, citing a range of threats to their safety and wellbeing, including gender-based violence and online abuse such as AI-generated sexualised deepfakes used to discredit and humiliate women. This highlights the need for stronger employment protections and effective safeguards against sexual harassment.
The study identified serious and overlapping concerns related to job security, sexual harassment, financial exploitation, and occupational safety. Respondents cited long working hours, lack of basic facilities, particularly for pregnant women and those with childcare responsibilities, and unreasonable demands from supervisors as major concerns. These conditions directly affect women's health, dignity, and ability to remain in employment, while also exposing them to a greater risk of workplace harassment.
The assessment also found that informal and precarious employment arrangements are widespread, with nearly half of the journalists who participated working without a written employment contract. This exposes them to arbitrary dismissal, unpredictable wages, unpaid overtime, and the denial of maternity benefits. Furthermore, more than half of the respondents experience chronic salary arrears or sporadic payments, or report that they work without any form of remuneration.
The research further found that multiple barriers and discriminatory practices prevent women from attaining leadership positions. These include limited access to training programmes and exclusion from editorial meetings where strategic and financial decisions are made. Although women often occupy highly visible roles in media organisations, such as television presenters, their participation in editorial leadership and institutional decision-making remains limited.
The survey also found that women journalists are reluctant to speak out against harassment for fear of social stigma and various forms of retaliation, including dismissal, salary cuts, and the refusal of professional references. A culture of silence has allowed harassment to persist, placing responsibility for managing its consequences on the women affected rather than on those responsible for preventing it. NUSOJ has called for confidential complaints mechanisms and equal career opportunities to address these challenges.
NUSOJ said the findings underscore the need for stronger employment protections, written contracts, fair and predictable remuneration, and effective safeguards against sexual harassment. The organisation also called for improved occupational safety measures and an end to discriminatory recruitment and employment practices that continue to fuel inequality and injustice within the country's media sector. The assessment highlights the need for urgent action to address the workplace challenges facing women journalists in Somalia.
Key points
- Women journalists in Somalia face widespread insecurity, harassment, and workplace exploitation.
- The survey found that just 11 per cent of respondents believed they had the same opportunities as men to advance their careers.
- NUSOJ has called for stronger employment protections, written contracts, and effective safeguards against sexual harassment to address the workplace challenges facing women journalists in Somalia.
