Fundación Personas supports the end of DIGITAL violence against women and girls.
Gender-based violence remains one of the most widespread and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, it is estimated that nearly one in three women have been victims of physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.
Violence against women on online platforms is, as of today, a serious and fast-moving threat that aims to silence the voices of many women, especially those with a high public and digital presence in certain fields such as politics, activism or journalism.
It is a form of violence on the rise due to weak technological regulation, a lack of legal recognition of this type of aggression in some countries, the impunity of platforms, new and rapid forms of AI abuse, anti-gender equality movements, the anonymity of aggressors and poor support for digital victims.
⚠️ Virtual violence is real violence 85% of women worldwide have experienced or witnessed digital violence against other women.
📲 What is digital abuse?
Digital tools are increasingly being used to stalk, harass and abuse women and girls. These include:
- Image misuse or non-consensual sharing of intimate images, often referred to as revenge porn or nude leaks.
- Cyberbullying, trolling and online threats.
- Online harassment and sexual harassment.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) image forgery: sexually explicit images, counterfeit pornography and digitally manipulated images, videos or audios.
- Hate speech and misinformation on platforms.
- Doxeo: publication of private information.
- Hate speech and misinformation on platforms.
- Harassment, surveillance or online monitoring to control a person’s activities.
- Online recruitment and sexual exploitation.
- Identity theft.
- Misogynist networks, such as the macho-sphere or incel forums.
These acts do not only occur on the Internet. They often lead to violence in real life, for example in the form of coercion, physical abuse and even femicide, i.e. the murder of women and girls. The damage can be long-lasting and affect survivors for a long time.
Digital violence is directed to a greater extent against women than against men in all areas, but particularly affects those who enjoy public or online visibility: activists, journalists, politicians, human rights defenders and young women.
Its effects are even more severe in the case of women who face intersecting forms of discrimination, such as discrimination based on race, DISABILITY, gender identity or sexual orientation.
#No Excuses for Online AbuseInternet Safety: A Practical Guide for Women and Girls | UN Women
