Curbing Digital Violence

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign kicked off globally on Tuesday, with a focus on ending the digital violence against women. The national and international slogans of the campaign imply that women face abuses in both real and virtual worlds. This is a perplexing matter that the forms of violence against women have altered as society moves to a higher stage of development. Technological innovation marks the socio-economic advancement of nations. New technology has given impetus to the economic transformation in every era, starting from the Industrial Revolution. Today, we are passing through the Information Age, which has seen unprecedented changes in the way people communicate, learn, think, and respond to one another. 

The internet has enabled people to instantly pass information to others, enhancing efficiency and speed in almost all professions and businesses. Diverse social media platforms have become viable means of expression, connection, engagement and empowerment. But the technological boon has also been accompanied by a bane.  Misinformation and disinformation, fake news, rumours, hate speeches and character assassinations have also increased, threatening to dismantle the fabric of families and society. Millions of women and girls have become the victims of digital violence that includes online harassment, revenge porn, deepfake pornography, cyberstalking, doxing and impersonation. Perpetrators weaponise cyber violence to silence and browbeat the female folks. This has been further fuelled by artificial intelligence (AI) and the absence of effective protective laws.

A World Bank study shows that less than 40 per cent of countries have laws protecting women from online harassment, leaving 44 per cent of the world’s women and girls – 1.8 billion – high and dry.  It is not only ordinary women but those in leadership, business, and politics who are targeted digitally and forced to disappear from public life. One in four women journalists face online threats of physical violence, including death threats, across the globe. The online violence turns into physical violence and femicide. In view of rising cases of digital violence, this year the national slogan of the 16-day activism against GBV is ‘Use technology wisely, end gender-based violence’ and international ‘Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.’ 

Inaugurating the campaign, Prime Minister Sushila Karki said the other day that Nepal has laws against gender violence but they are not effectively implemented. She noted that society must be awakened to end gender-based violence and laid emphasis on poverty reduction, improved education, enhanced social awareness, and increased employment opportunities in eliminating gender oppression and inequality. With the advent of multiparty democracy in 1990, Nepal has amended laws to ensure gender equality. Women have climbed the leadership rung in vital organs of the state. Yet, many of them still fall prey to violence.  Though many achievements have been made in the field of gender parity, much has to be done to this end.

The 16-day campaign should create momentum to generate awareness against the cyber violence against women. The policy and laws must be effectively enforced to make sure that digital platforms and AI tools meet safety and ethical standards. The digital culprits must be brought to book and the victims should be provided legal and financial support. Let's hope the anti-GBV campaign will contribute to making online spaces safe, dignified and inclusive.