Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, the UN Women has revealed that online violence against women journalists doubled since 2020, with nearly one in four victims experiencing anxiety and depression linked to such abuse.

However, Nigeria has been ranked 112th of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The ranking marks a 10-place improvement from 2025, when the country placed 122nd.

The revelation by UN Women is in a new report, which underscores the growing scale and sophistication of digital attacks targeting women in public life, particularly journalists and other media professionals.

The report, ‘Tipping Point: Online Violence—Impacts, Manifestations and Redress in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Age’, which was produced by UN Women in collaboration with TheNerve and other partners, highlights emerging threats, including the use of AI to amplify harassment and reputational attacks.

According to the analysis, 12 per cent of women human rights defenders, journalists and media workers surveyed reported experiencing non-consensual sharing of personal images, including intimate content, while six per cent said they had been victims of deepfake manipulation. Nearly one in three respondents disclosed receiving unsolicited sexual advances through digital platforms.

The report noted that such abuse is often coordinated and targeted, aimed at silencing women and undermining their professional credibility. As a result, 41 per cent of respondents admitted to self-censoring on social media, while 19 per cent said they had restricted their professional output.

UN Women’s Chief of the Ending Violence Against Women Section, Kalliopi Mingerou, warned that emerging technologies were worsening the crisis.

“AI is making abuse easier and more damaging, fuelling the erosion of hard-won rights in a context marked by democratic backsliding and networked misogyny,” she said, stressing the need for urgent institutional and legal responses.

WITH a score of 48.11 out of 100, Nigeria has returned to its 2024 position after last year’s decline. Despite the improvement, the country remains in the “difficult” category for press freedom.

The RSF uses five indicators — which determine the economic, legal, security, political and social environments for journalism — to assess press freedom worldwide.

Nigeria recorded improvements in four of the five indicators, seeing a decline of 0.99 points in the social indicator.

The report reads: “Nigeria is one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists, who are regularly monitored, attacked and arbitrarily arrested.

“Electoral periods continue to bring significant violence against media professionals. In August 2024, around 30 journalists were assaulted, arrested and targeted with tear gas or gunfire while covering the social protests shaking the country.”

Crimes committed against journalists continue to go unpunished, even when the perpetrators are known or apprehended, the report added.

Norway holds the top spot for the 10th consecutive year with 92.72 points, while Eritrea comes in last for the third year in a row.

RSF noted that post-Assad Syria recorded the biggest improvement in the 2026 index, rising 36 places.