40th IAWRT Biennial Conference

Dear guests and colleagues, good morning.

Today, we begin by extending our deep condolences to the people of Thailand for the passing of their beloved Queen Sirikit last October 24th. Her leadership and devotion to her nation will always be remembered.

May I invite everyone to rise as we observe few seconds of silence in her honor.

(few seconds of silence)

Thank you. Please be seated.

Today, we warmly welcome all delegates who have traveled from different regions to be part of our 40th IAWRT Biennial Conference. Your presence reflects your commitment, your enthusiasm, and your belief in our collective mission.

Today is also the first time in our history in IAWRT that we gather for a conference fully self-sponsored. This truly shows how eager and dedicated our members are to be here, despite so many challenges. Thank you for coming.

Our conference begins today, December 4, and will continue until December 6th.

We gather at a time when the world is facing profound challenges—political unrest in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Iraq, the United States, and most recently in Kenya and Tanzania.

These tensions shape the lives of millions and directly affect the work of journalists everywhere.

Our colleagues in the media face growing risks—not only in reporting on instability in their countries, but also in navigating how to stand with their people and participate in the transformations they demand. Many of us have been victims of corruption, harassment, threats, unjust arrest, assault, and imprisonment simply because we dare to tell the truth. Because we speak for the powerless, challenge injustice, and refuse to be silent.

We are truth-tellers—yet we remain among those most deprived of press freedom and freedom of expression.

Our colleagues in Palestine continue to endure the greatest vulnerability—experiencing unimaginable violence, displacement, and deprivation. The loss of life in Gaza has been staggering. Families are grieving, communities are shattered, and the world is witnessing suffering that should never be acceptable. It is a painful reminder of how global systems, inequalities, and the actions of powerful states determine who is protected and who is not.

And yet, despite all this, the world is still watching. And more importantly, we do not lose hope that the world is still listening.

It is listening to us—the journalists, the documenters, the women who refuse to be silenced. It is listening to the communities demanding justice. It is listening to the mothers protecting their children, the activists seeking dignity, and the citizens who believe that peace is their right.

This is why we are here today — to give voice to the voiceless, to reaffirm our solidarity across borders. We gather because truth-telling is not just our profession—it is our responsibility.

But we must also recognize a deeper reality: gender justice in a conflict-driven world is still far from being achieved. Women journalists often become direct targets of violence and intimidation—particularly by those who fear the truth they expose.

In Afghanistan, after the withdrawal of the United States and the return of the Taliban, women and girls have been stripped of their right to education and forced into silence.

In Iraq, years of conflict and power struggles have left women journalists struggling to report freely, their voices constrained by fear and repression.

Across Palestine, where more than 200 journalists have been killed since October 2023, women continue to document the truth amid devastation and danger.

And in the Philippines, Frenchie Mae Cumpio was only 21 when she was illegally arrested in February 2020 on trumped-up charges of possessing firearms and explosives—accusations widely condemned as fabricated. Authorities later escalated the case by adding an allegation of terrorism financing. Although she won a murder case against her this November, her long-awaited freedom remains painfully elusive.

At 26, Frenchie’s dream is the same as that of many colleagues unjustly deprived of their liberty: to reclaim her life, see the world beyond prison walls, and continue speaking truth to power with courage.

So the question remains: How can gender justice prevail in a world where women are denied the freedom to speak, to learn, to work, and to live without fear?

To move toward real gender justice, we must commit to real solutions:

First – Protect women journalists through enforceable international guarantees.

Mechanisms must exist that compel governments and armed groups to respect the rights and safety of women in the media.
Second – Hold perpetrators accountable—no matter who they are.
War crimes, gender-based violence, and attacks on journalists must be investigated and prosecuted, regardless of political alliances or the identity of the perpetrator.
Third – Support and strengthen women’s networks and local media communities.
Women need resources—funding, training, safe communication tools, digital protection—to continue telling the stories that matter.
Fourth – Demand universal access to education for women and girls.
Without education, justice becomes impossible. The international community must challenge regimes that deny girls their rights and support alternatives wherever necessary.
Fifth – Ensure women’s full participation in peacebuilding and reconstruction.
There can be no meaningful peace, no durable justice, when half the population is absent from decision-making tables.

Gender justice will not come from hope alone. It requires action, courage, and a united voice. And that is why this conference matters.

Let it be a place of courage and insight—a space where we lift each other up, challenge one another, and build strategies that protect our rights and our safety. May it empower us to defend press freedom, support one another, and continue the work that unites us as women in media.

Together, we carry the stories of our people. Together, we continue the fight for justice, dignity, and freedom. And together, we remind the world that the truth will not be silenced.

Thank you, and I wish everyone a meaningful, powerful, and inspiring 40th IAWRT Biennial Conference.