phenomena. 57 The United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences visited Colombia in November 2001. Among her conclusions, she highlighted (i) the error of concluding that gender-based violence was not related to the armed conflict and, therefore, was not a matter of international law, regarding which the Rapporteur stated that they were clearly identified as human rights violations and international crimes; (ii) the lack of interest in the issue of violence against women among the parties to the armed conflict, in society, and in the media, thereby ignoring the impact on women victims, and (iii) that violence against women in Colombia is widespread and systematic, and the degree of impunity in this regard is concerning. 58 48. Women journalists are no strangers to this gender-based violence. They have faced and continue to face risks specific to their profession, such as "coercion and sexual harassment, intimidation, abuse of power and threats" as well as "violence and sexual harassment” in the context of doing their jobs. 59 The Inter-American Commission and the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression have recognized that the risk faced by women journalists working in conflict zones is “two-fold risk for exercising journalism in situations of significant conflict or violence and in contexts that reinforce gender subordination.” 60 Furthermore, as the expert Daniela Kravetz pointed out in the public hearing: The risks and manifestations of violence faced by women journalists are often different from those experienced by men in the sense that women are more exposed to gender-based violence—for example, gender-based murders, sexual violence, harassment, abuse of power. Additionally, the motives behind it can be different, as journalism is a very public role and very visible in a society. Thus, exercising this profession as a woman in certain contexts can be seen as a violation of the prevailing stereotypes of what the role of women should be in that context. This can lead to acts of aggression against them. 61 49. Additionally, in its answering brief, the State acknowledged the existence of an armed conflict at the time of the events that caused women and journalists to have "difficulties in freely exercising their rights domestically." 62 In its final written arguments, it indicated that the aforementioned armed conflict "hampered the free and comprehensive exercise of the rights of women who perform journalistic activities in Colombia." 63 Thus, while women journalists face the same risks as their male colleagues when investigating corruption, organized crime, and human rights violations, they also face specific risks due to being women, risks that also intersect with other factors of vulnerability such as race, class, sexual orientation and ethnic origin, among others. 64 57 Cf. Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Mission to Colombia (November 1 to 7, 2001), supra, para. 42. Cf. Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Mission to Colombia (November 1 to 7, 2001), supra, para. 103. 58 59 Cf. IACHR, Women Journalists and Freedom of Expression: Discrimination and Gender-Based Violence Faced by Women Journalist in the Exercise of their Profession, OEA/SER.L/V/II CIDH/RELE/INF.20/18, October 31, 2018, para. 39. 60 Cf. IACHR, Women Journalists and Freedom of Expression: Discrimination and Gender-Based Violence Faced by Women Journalists in the Exercise of their Profession, supra, para. 103; IACHR, Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. “Violence against Journalists and Media Workers: InterAmerican Standards and National Practices on Prevention, Protection and Prosecution of Perpetrators,” OEA/Ser.L/V/II, CIDH/RELE/INF.12/13, December 31, 2013, para. 263. Cf. Expert opinion from Daniela Kravetz given at the public hearing held on March 15, 22, and 23, 2021 within the framework of the 140th regular sessions. 61 62 Cf. Response of the State of March 16, 2020 (merits file, folio 500). 63 Cf. Final arguments brief presented by the State of April 23, 2021 (merits file, folio 1496). IACHR, Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. "Women Journalists and Freedom of Expression. Discrimination and Gender-Based Violence Faced by Women Journalists in the Exercise of their Profession, OEA/SER.L/V/II CIDH/RELE/INF.20/18, October 31, 2018, para. 12. 64 18