New York, USA — SOMWA Executive Director Maryan Seylac joined a panel discussion at the United Nations in New York focusing on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and the vital role women journalists play in promoting peace, accountability, and gender equality.
The discussion highlighted the challenges women journalists face in conflict-affected settings, including violence, intimidation, and threats to their safety and professional independence. It also emphasized the important contributions they make to shaping public debate, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, and advancing peacebuilding efforts.
Women journalists are not merely victims of conflict and violence; they are also powerful agents of change. Through their reporting, they bring attention to overlooked issues, document human rights violations, challenge misinformation, and hold those in power accountable.
Their work is particularly important in conflict and crisis situations, where independent journalism helps communities access reliable information and ensures that the experiences and perspectives of women and other marginalized groups are represented in public discourse.
Seylac’s participation in the UN panel underscored the importance of recognizing and supporting women journalists as key contributors to peace and security. Protecting their rights, ensuring their safety, and strengthening their participation in decision-making processes are essential to achieving the objectives of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
The discussion also reinforced the need for greater international commitment to creating an enabling environment in which women journalists can carry out their work without fear of violence, harassment, or reprisal.