2. Specific considerations on the special duties to protect women journalists 78. In recent years, the IACHR, through its Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, and together with the international community, has made efforts to draw attention to the forms of gender-based violence against women that female journalists face in the practice of their profession, as well as the disproportionate impact of certain forms of discrimination against women in their work. 173 79. In addition to being subject to the wide range of human rights violations affecting journalists in general, “Women journalists […] disproportionately and routinely face gender-based violence in the workplace and in the field.” 174 Indeed, women journalists are doubly attacked for exercising freedom of expression and for their gender. In challenging male chauvinist stereotypes that disapprove of their participation in public life, women encounter gender-based violence and discrimination, as well as differentiated forms of violence by state and non-state actors. 175 At the same time, they face a lack of protection and obstacles to access to justice that are also differentiated from the experiences of their male colleagues. 80. The gender-based discrimination and violence faced by women journalists constitute attacks on freedom of expression. Sexist abuse, inequality in the workplace, sexual harassment, and online violence against women journalists in the course of their work also pose risks to freedom of expression that must be condemned and properly addressed. 81. In this regard, the OAS General Assembly, in its resolution on the Right to freedom of thought and expression and the safety of journalists and media workers adopted in 2017, 176 recognized that, “the work done by journalists, especially those who investigate and report on human rights violations, organized crime, corruption, and other serious wrongdoings, exposes them to being victims of aggressions and other acts of violence detrimental to their integrity and whose existence dissuade them to pursue their work and in consequence deprive society of information of public interest” and expressed concern “at the particular risks faced by women who practice journalism, who, in addition, are victims of discrimination, harassment and sexual violence, including online.” 82. In a similar vein, in its resolution on The safety of journalists and the issue of impunity adopted in 2017, 177 the United Nations General Assembly “[acknowledged] the specific risks faced by women journalists in the exercise of their work, and underlining in this context the importance of taking a gender-sensitive approach when considering measures to address the safety of journalists, including in the online sphere, in particular to effectively tackle gender-based discrimination, including violence, inequality and gender-based stereotypes, and to enable women to enter and remain in journalism on equal terms with men while ensuring their greatest possible safety, to ensure that the experiences and concerns of women journalists are effectively addressed and gender stereotypes in the media are adequately tackled.” Rights (ACHPR) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information. June 25, 2012. Joint Declaration on Crimes against Freedom of Expression. 173 IACHR. Annual Report 2013. Annual Report of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression. Chapter III (Violence against journalists and media workers: Inter-American Standards and national practices on prevention, protection and prosecution of perpetrators). OEA/Ser.L/V/II.149. Doc. 50. December 31, 2013. Para. 251. 174 UN General Assembly. The safety of journalists and the issue of impunity. Report of the Secretary General. A/72/290. August 4, 2017. Para. 8. 175 IACHR. Press Release 192/17. IACHR Calls on States to recognize and protect the work of women human rights defenders. Washington, D.C., November 29, 2017. See also: IACHR. Second report on the situation of human rights defenders in the Americas, OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc. 66, December 31, 2011. Para. 283; IACHR. Toward a comprehensive policy to protect human right defenders. OEA/Ser.L/V/II (available in Spanish). Doc. 207/17. December 29, 2017. Para. 43. IACHR. Criminalization of human rights defenders. OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc. 49/15. December 31, 2015, p. 37. The IACHR affirms that human rights defenders are persons who promote or seek by any means to realize the human rights and fundamental freedoms recognized at the national or international level. The key criterion for identifying a human rights defender is the very nature of the activities performed by a person, instead of other factors such as being paid for his or her work, or being a member of a civilian or professional association. See. IACHR. Second report on the situation of human rights defenders in the Americas, OEA/Ser.L/V/II., Doc. 66, December 31, 2011. 176 OAS. General Assembly. “Right to freedom of thought and expression and the safety of journalists and media workers”. In: AG/RES. 2908 (XLVII-O/17). Promotion and protection of human rights. Adopted at the Third Plenary Session held on June 21, 2017. 177 UN General Assembly. The safety of journalists and the issue of impunity. November 13, 2017. A/C.3/72/L.35/Rev.1, pg. 5. 21