The digital world, once envisioned as a democratizing force for global communication and empowerment, has increasingly become a primary battleground for gender-based abuse. As internet penetration reaches nearly every corner of the globe, a dark reality has surfaced: for millions of women and girls, the digital space is a site of persistent harassment, intimidation, and violence. Recent global data paints a sobering picture of this epidemic, revealing that in some regions, more than half of all women report having experienced online violence. This is not merely a collection of isolated incidents or "trolling"; it is a systemic crisis that threatens to roll back decades of progress in gender equality.
The scale of the problem varies by geography, yet the underlying patterns remain distressingly consistent. In the European Union, a region often cited for its robust legal frameworks, one in ten women reports having experienced cyber-harassment since the age of 15. The situation is even more acute in the Arab States, where a staggering 60 percent of women internet users report being exposed to online violence within the last year alone. Similarly, in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, more than half of the women active online have encountered some form of technology-facilitated violence during their lifetimes. These figures represent a global failure to protect women in the very spaces that were meant to foster their connection and growth.
Behind these cold statistics lie the lived experiences of real people. Whether they are high-profile figures in politics, sports, entertainment, and media, or private individuals simply trying to navigate social platforms, women and girls live under the constant shadow of potential abuse. This violence is often deeply personal, designed to silence voices and discourage participation in public life. When a woman is driven from a digital space by threats of doxing, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, or relentless harassment, the loss is not hers alone. Society as a whole is diminished. We are denied her leadership, her unique perspective, and her contributions to the global conversation. The "chilling effect" of online violence serves as a modern form of censorship, effectively gatekeeping the digital commons.
For years, feminist movements and digital rights defenders have been the primary sentinels on this front, sounding the alarm and building the survivor networks that governments and tech giants failed to provide. Their advocacy is finally beginning to yield tangible results. Today, approximately two-thirds of countries report having implemented targeted actions to address digital violence. However, the gap between policy and practice remains wide. While legislation is a necessary first step, the rapidly evolving nature of technology often leaves legal frameworks struggling to keep pace.
In response to this gap, UN Women has launched a comprehensive global program on digital violence, with the strategic support of Spain. This initiative is designed to bridge the divide between data and action, transforming advocacy into concrete policy. The program focuses on a multi-pronged approach: supporting essential services for survivors, funding prevention efforts, and helping to craft new legal frameworks that reflect the realities of the 21st century. Central to this mission is the empowerment of women’s rights organizations, which are currently navigating an increasingly complex landscape defined by technological shifts and a growing backlash against gender equality.
One of the most significant arms of this effort is the ACT to End Violence against Women Programme. Supported by the European Union, this initiative provides direct funding to 60 women’s rights organizations across the globe. These frontline groups are the backbone of the movement, offering safety and resilience to those targeted by digital predators. Furthermore, the ACT AI School is currently equipping more than 150 civil society organizations with the tools necessary to navigate the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence. By building AI competencies and digital safety skills, these organizations are better prepared to protect their communities from automated harassment and deepfake-based abuse.
Additional support comes through the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, which backs frontline organizations delivering advocacy and essential services. Meanwhile, the Spotlight Initiative continues to demonstrate the efficacy of a coordinated, system-wide approach. By breaking the cycle of violence both online and offline, these programs recognize that the digital and physical worlds are inextricably linked; violence in one almost inevitably bleeds into the other.
Despite these efforts, the challenges remain formidable. Survivors of digital violence frequently encounter a culture of disbelief when they attempt to report abuse. Law enforcement agencies and judicial systems are often ill-equipped to handle the technical nuances of cyber-harassment, leading to a pervasive atmosphere of impunity for abusers. Furthermore, the implementation of remedial or protective measures continues to lag behind the speed of technological innovation. This is compounded by a resource disparity: while women’s organizations struggle for the funding they need to survive, enormously wealthy technology platforms operate with limited oversight, often prioritizing engagement metrics over the safety of their female users.
However, the global community of advocates is equally formidable. The path forward requires a commitment to three fundamental pillars of change. First, there must be a universal recognition that digital violence is real violence. It is not "virtual" or "less than" physical harm; its psychological, professional, and social consequences are profound. Society must name it, measure it, and unequivocally reject it. This cultural shift involves working with people of all ages—men, women, boys, and girls—to dismantle harmful norms and challenge toxic perceptions of masculinity that fuel online aggression.
Second, the burden of accountability must shift toward justice systems and the private sector. Justice systems must be modernized to keep pace with the digital tools used by abusers. Simultaneously, technology companies must be held accountable for the safety of their platforms. For too long, the "move fast and break things" ethos of the tech industry has come at the expense of women’s safety. Safety must be a foundational design principle, not an afterthought.
Third, the world must invest in prevention and response with the same urgency applied to other global crises. The economic and social cost of violence against women is immense, far exceeding the cost of prevention. Yet, crucial work in this area remains chronically underfunded. Investing in the digital safety of women is an investment in the health of our democracies and the strength of our economies.
The upcoming 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) represents a pivotal moment for this movement. With "access to justice" as its priority theme, the commission will specifically address the need for justice for women, girls, and young people in the digital space. CSW70 offers a rare opportunity to strengthen the rule of law on a global scale, securing commitments for comprehensive legislation, better survivor services, and strict accountability measures for digital platforms. It is a chance to pivot the narrative, ensuring that technology serves as an enabler of gender equality and empowerment rather than a tool for subjugation.
Digital violence is not an inevitability of the internet age, nor is it an inescapable price of progress. On the contrary, it is a perversion of progress—a misuse of human ingenuity to recreate old patterns of oppression in a new medium. There should be a collective sense of outrage that tools designed to connect and unite the world are being weaponized to intimidate and silence half the population.
The refusal to accept this status quo is what will ultimately drive change. The solutions are already in hand; they require only the political will and the resources to be fully realized. Every space, whether on or offline, must be a sanctuary of safety, dignity, and equality. The goal is clear: a digital future where every woman and girl, in every corner of the world, can participate fully and fearlessly. The work continues, driven by the belief that a safer digital world for women is a safer, more just world for everyone.
