On International Women’s Day 2026, women across the Western Balkans and Turkey faced intense sexist attacks and gendered disinformation in response to their protests against inequality and violence. Reports from BIRN highlight a systemic rise in digital rights violations, where identity-based disinformation is used to silence feminist activists and investigative journalists. This hostility is often amplified by political figures and “anti-gender” movements, with statistics showing that 73% of women journalists globally have experienced online violence. Beyond smear campaigns, the weaponization of intimate images and state-led crackdowns on digital expression, such as Turkey’s targeting of adult content creators, are being used to reinforce patriarchal control. These documented cases reflect a broader global crisis where 67% of women and girls have experienced technology-facilitated gender-based violence, creating a chilling effect on those in the public sphere.
Date: March 11, 2026. Source: balkaninsight.com