This brief follows the methodology developed by the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) in the Western Balkans, combining desk research, analysis of quantitative data from the SJN database and qualitative insights gathered through interviews and focus groups with women journalists. It builds on the findings of the 2024 research and provides an updated assessment for 2025, with a particular focus on the implementation of existing legal and institutional safeguards in a context marked by ongoing political pressures and rapid digital transformation. The analysis covers the period from 1 January to 31 December 2025 and examines patterns of risks, forms of gender-based violence and discrimination, institutional responses and their impact on the professional work and psychological wellbeing of women journalists.