In a recent publication, Rutgers, a prominent sexual health organization in the Netherlands, has expressed concern over the escalating use of technology and social media as instruments for perpetrating violence against women and girls, even in the offline realm. The report has highlighted numerous instances where online abuse has translated into physical assaults and intimidation, underscoring the pressing need for enhanced protection of women’s rights, particularly in regions of the global south where legal safeguards are frequently deficient.
According to Rutgers, the advent of the internet age has brought both blessings and curses for women globally, as technology and online platforms are being exploited to instill fear in women and other vulnerable demographics. Drawing upon interviews conducted in multiple countries, including Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda, the research has uncovered widespread correlations linking online violence to real-life occurrences, such as sexual harassment, stalking, and intimate partner violence.
A particularly distressing case in South Africa involved a young girl who was subjected to cyberbullying and subsequently physically assaulted, culminating in her tragic suicide. In Morocco, former partners have been known to leverage intimate images or videos for retribution in legal disputes, illustrating the far-reaching repercussions of online abuse.
In addition to personal relationships, women activists and public figures are also targeted, often contending with online death threats and social media attacks. In Morocco, activist Ghizlane Mamouni and her colleagues have fallen victim to such abuse, compelling them to advocate for legal reforms that afford better protection to women and girls against gender-based violence perpetuated by technology.
While certain African countries have enacted legislation against online violence, the report has unveiled that victims reporting such incidents may find themselves subject to investigation and prosecution, particularly if their actions run afoul of other laws criminalising aspects of sexuality. This places an additional burden on LGBTQ+ individuals, who are already at a heightened risk of online and offline abuse due to Uganda’s stringent laws against homosexuality.
It is important to acknowledge that while women and girls are the primary targets of such violence, men and boys can also be impacted, as can male acquaintances and relatives of targeted women. Rutgers has also underscored the various manifestations that technology-facilitated violence can assume, including the application of GPS tracking devices, drones, or recording devices, emphasising the breadth and complexity of the issue.
Despite the mounting threat of technology-driven violence against women, the report has cautioned that this issue is frequently disregarded and underestimated by law enforcement and policymakers, resulting in minimal protection being extended to the victims. Consequently, women and girls may feel too unsafe to engage in civic and political spheres, ultimately impeding progress towards gender equality and democratic participation.
In conclusion, the report by Rutgers stands as a vital wake-up call, underscoring the imperative need to address technology-facilitated violence against women and girls and to furnish them with requisite legal and social protection. It is imperative that policymakers, law enforcement, and society at large acknowledge and address this issue in a comprehensive and effective manner to safeguard the rights and well-being of women and girls worldwide.