Accelerating action to end cyber-bullying

By Jacqueline PARDITEY

Cyber-bullying has become one of the most insidious forms of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (TF VAWG), and it requires urgent, collective action to address.

Accelerating action to end cyber-bullying is not only necessary but vital to creating a safer and more equitable digital environment for women and girls.

Women have quickly risen to the top of the global conversation. Despite the numerous efforts made every day to create a more gender-balanced world, gender disparity still lingers.

According to the 2024 UN Secretary-General’s report, three emerging challenges stand at the forefront: the growing backlash against women’s rights, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the expansion of the manosphere—an ecosystem of misogynistic content that is seeping into mainstream culture, shaping public attitudes toward women and fuelling violence.

People and organisations across the globe are taking concrete steps to create a better balance for all. A feminist well-being economy recognises that social needs, gender equality and the redistribution of caregiving should be the primary indicators of economic progress, rather than the traditional focus on GDP growth.

After the Beijing Declaration, women emerged with renewed hope and confidence, believing that issues of economic security and women’s rights would be celebrated and advanced year after year. However, today, technology has been weaponised to harm women and girls in new and alarming ways.

Although not a new phenomenon, technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) has surged in recent years, posing serious threats to the safety and well-being of women and girls worldwide. What begins as online abuse can quickly escalate, extending beyond digital spaces and crossing borders, leaving many women feeling unsafe in their homes, workplaces and public spaces.

The truth is, no one should have to live in fear simply for existing online. The digital world should be a safe space for everyone. However, coupled with online harassment, trolls, blackmail, insults and defamation, it is evident that rapid technological change is creating new risks and platforms for violence against women and girls.

The 2024 UN report on technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (TF VAWG) is mind-blowing. While all women and girls are at risk, some groups are disproportionately affected.

Women in the public eye, as well as marginalised women and girls, continue to bear the brunt of TF VAWG. These groups include women in public life, journalists, human rights defenders, politicians, feminist activists and young women and girls—who are often at the highest risk of such violence.

IWD 2025

The theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025— ‘Accelerate Action’—is a call to action that highlights the urgency of advancing gender equality. It emphasises the need for swift, proactive measures to break down the barriers and biases that persist across societies. In a world that continues to evolve, this theme urges us to increase momentum in addressing the systemic challenges women face in both personal and professional realms.

To ‘Accelerate Action’ is to recognise that time is of the essence. The progress we’ve made so far, while important, is not enough. Gender equality cannot be achieved through slow, incremental steps alone—it demands bold, decisive action. This is the moment to take intentional, collective steps to dismantle the societal, cultural and institutional structures that continue to marginalise and discriminate against women.

By focusing on accelerating action, IWD 2025 encourages us to move beyond discussions and resolutions to meaningful change. It asks individuals, communities, businesses and governments to commit to tangible solutions and take responsibility for creating spaces where gender equality is the norm, not the exception.

Now more than ever, we must amplify our voices, challenge the status quo and accelerate the momentum needed to make gender equality a lived reality for all women and girls.

TF VAWG

The prevalence of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (TF VAWG) ranges from 16 percent to 58 percent, highlighting the widespread and alarming nature of this issue. Among the various forms of online violence, misinformation and defamation are the most prevalent tactics, with 67 percent of women and girls who have experienced TF VAWG reporting this as the primary form of abuse.

In recent years, anti-rights actors have increasingly used online spaces to push back against women’s rights, creating a hostile and dangerous digital environment. This environment is marked by cyber-bullying, harassment and threats of violence disproportionately targeting women human rights defenders, women’s rights activists and women engaged in public life.

This toxic digital space is not just a temporary challenge—it is a growing phenomenon that threatens to silence women’s voices and undermine their participation in public discourse. The strategic use of online violence serves to discredit women and obstruct their ability to speak out, advocate for change and engage fully in the democratic processes.

The impact is profound: when women are attacked online, their ability to participate in critical conversations, express opinions and exercise their rights is severely diminished. This continues to reinforce the gender disparities already prevalent in society, further silencing those who are working tirelessly to secure justice, equality and peace for all.

How to curb the menace of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (TF VAWG):

Citing from the UN report, the elimination of TF VAWG requires coordinated global action. In Ghana, as in many other nations, collaboration with technology companies is critical to address this growing issue. Here are some key steps that can help curb this menace:

Develop clear international standards and frameworks: Ghana can engage with technology companies to create clear international standards that outline how to respond to TF VAWG. These standards should cover emerging forms of digital violence, legal requirements and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders involved in online spaces.

Establish legal standards and accountability: There is a need to establish robust legal standards that hold individuals and organisations accountable for the creation, distribution and hosting of harmful content. Technology companies, content generators and distributors must be held to common standards of accountability to ensure the protection of women and girls’ rights online.

International coordination and cooperation: Effective action against TF VAWG requires international coordination and cooperation. Governments, civil society organisations and the tech industry must work together to create a unified response to the challenges posed by technology-facilitated violence. This includes information-sharing, joint initiatives and best practice exchanges to address the issue at a global scale.

One crucial step to curbing technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (TF VAWG) is to ensure that technology is designed with a gender-responsive approach. This can be achieved by increasing the participation of women in the technology sector at all levels.

Inclusive design: Technology should be designed with the experiences, needs and safety concerns of women and girls in mind. A gender-responsive approach means that products, platforms and services are created with awareness of how gender impacts the way people interact with technology. This can lead to safer online spaces, more secure digital platforms and tools that better protect women and girls from online abuse and harassment.

Increase women’s representation in tech: The underrepresentation of women in the technology sector is a major gap. By increasing the participation of women in the technology industry, we can ensure that their perspectives and expertise are incorporated into the development of technological solutions. This will not only help make digital spaces safer, but also foster innovation that addresses the unique challenges women face in the digital world.

Fostering empowerment through education and training: Investing in education and training for women and girls in technology will further increase their participation and influence in the sector. This helps women understand and leverage technology not only to safeguard themselves but also to advocate for their rights and contribute to the tech industry’s growth in a more inclusive, equitable way.

By prioritising gender-responsive design and promoting greater gender equity in the tech sector, we can ensure that the technology of tomorrow is safer, more inclusive and works for everyone—especially women and girls who are too often marginalised in the digital space.

By strengthening legal frameworks, fostering cooperation between nations and technology companies and establishing clear accountability structures, we can work toward protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces. This will help to eliminate the growing menace of TF VAWG and create safer online environments for all.

Together, we can create a dignified technological space for women and girls.

The writer is a gender and social justice advocate

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