16 Days Campaign Targets Digital Violence Against Women

The global community launched the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence on November 25, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This year's campaign, under the theme "Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls," addresses the escalating threat of technology-facilitated abuse targeting women and girls worldwide, with particular emphasis on Africa where organizations and governments are intensifying efforts to combat online harassment and its offline repercussions.

In Abuja, Nigeria, the Women Community in Africa, a nongovernmental organization, kicked off the campaign by highlighting how digital violence undermines human dignity and societal trust. Dr. Adetoun Dally, the group's president, described such abuse as a violation that leads to psychological trauma and loss of life. She called for lawmakers to enact stronger protections against cyberstalking, harassment, and nonconsensual sharing of private images, urging law enforcement to prioritize these cases and technology companies to enhance platform safety. "We must awaken the collective desire to do better, to speak up, and to take action," Dally said,...