Dimitar Dimitrovski, 2023 winner of the Staff Member Award

Dimitar Dimitrovski, recipient of the 2023 Gender Equality Champion Award, has been a part of the OSCE Mission to Skopje for nearly three years.

Having worked in the communication and media relations unit, he has seen first-hand the impact online abuse has on women media professionals.

Astonished by what he witnessed, Dimitar made gender inclusion and equality a key component of his work.

He credits his gender equality advocacy efforts to witnessing the obstacles his female family members faced against entrenched male privilege. “I saw my mother and grandmother denied opportunities in their careers, education, and in society merely because of their gender,” he says.

Dimitar deeply sympathizes with women journalists experiencing online abuse, prejudice, and harassment.

Determined to be a helpful ally, Dimitar supported the creation of an online training module to address the issue. The course provided women journalists with the knowledge and resources they need to take a proactive approach to their safety and security. Fuelled by his passion to build a better world, Dimitar also collaborated with the Platform for Investigative Journalism and Analyses (PINA) on an initiative that surveyed women journalists on their experiences.

The statistics revealed by the survey were eye-opening and alarming. Out of 103 respondents, 81.6% stated they had experienced online harassment because of their professional work and affiliation. The nature of the harassment ranged from sexualized comments to physical threats of violence.

Dimitar’s next move was equally bold and innovative. He worked with PINA in producing a documentary that captures the stories behind the survey findings.

‘Dangerous Network’ tells the stories of six prominent female journalists from North Macedonia, each of whom experienced distressing levels of abuse, including death threats.

The film is powerful and direct. Conveying a somber message, it generated an immediate buzz.

It was selected for broadcast in Macedonian and Albanian by the national public broadcaster. The European Federation of Journalists then published an article highlighting an urgent need for additional protection for female media workers in North Macedonia.

The impact of ‘Dangerous Network’ can be credited to one man’s willingness to not only listen but to facilitate action.

In Dimitar’s own words, “the documentary addressing violence and harassment against women media professionals effectively raised awareness on issues that are often underreported or overlooked. It shed a light on the challenges faced by women journalists and emphasized some psychological barriers that often prevent women reporters to do their work thus restricting their freedom of expression.”

Dimitar believes that documentary also served as a catalyst for conversation and debate about gender inequality, power dynamics, and the need for systemic change in the country. Through featuring personal stories of women journalists and by amplifying their voices it empowered survivors by validating their important struggles, challenging victim-blaming narratives and inspiring other women journalists to speak out.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to foster collaboration among diverse parties, which has been instrumental in bringing closer attention to the challenges confronted by female journalists in North Macedonia,” he says.

“Embracing the role of a gender ally demands unwavering dedication and an unwavering commitment. It is a vital fight that resonates with the essence of humanity,” asserts Dimitar.