The promise of the internet was once rooted in the democratization of information and the empowerment of the marginalized. For women across the globe, the digital world offered a potential sanctuary—a place to organize, to lead, and to find a voice that traditional societal structures often suppressed. However, as the digital age has matured, this promise has been shadowed by a rising tide of hostility. Today, the digital space is increasingly becoming a primary site of violence, where the tools of connection are being weaponized to silence, intimidate, and exclude women and girls.
The scale of this crisis is staggering. Current data reveals that in some regions, more than 50 percent of women report having experienced online violence. This is not a localized phenomenon or a niche issue affecting a small subset of the population; it is a systemic global epidemic. In the European Union, for instance, statistics indicate that one in ten women has been the victim of cyber-harassment since the age of 15. The numbers become even more alarming when looking at specific geopolitical regions. In the Arab States, a staggering 60 percent of female internet users reported being exposed to online violence within the last year alone. Similarly, in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, more than half of women who maintain an online presence have faced some form of technology-facilitated violence during their lives.
These figures represent more than just data points; they represent a fundamental barrier to gender equality. Behind every percentage is a woman whose voice has been muted, a girl who has been discouraged from pursuing her dreams, and a society that has been diminished by the loss of their contributions. When women are driven out of digital spaces by threats of doxing, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, or relentless harassment, we are all denied their leadership and vision. This "dark side of digitalization" ensures that the gender gap is not just closing—it is being rebuilt in the virtual world.
The experience of this violence is not limited to the private sphere. It permeates every facet of public life. Women in politics, sports, entertainment, and the media face a constant, looming threat of abuse. For many high-profile women, the digital landscape is a minefield where every statement or achievement is met with a barrage of gender-based vitriol. Even those who stand on international podiums to advocate for change are often survivors themselves, intimately familiar with the psychological and professional toll that online violence takes. The message sent to women is clear: your presence in the public eye comes at a price.
In response to this escalating threat, feminist movements and digital rights defenders have stepped into the breach. These organizations have spent years sounding the alarm, advocating for better protections, and building survivor networks from the ground up. Their work is the bedrock of the progress we see today. Currently, two-thirds of countries report taking some form of targeted action to combat digital violence, a direct result of the pressure applied by grassroots activists and civil society.
UN Women has taken a leading role in coordinating this global response. Through its global program on digital violence, supported by Spain, the organization is working to bridge the gap between data and action. The goal is to transform advocacy into concrete policy, ensuring that the legal frameworks of the physical world are translated effectively into the digital realm. This involves supporting essential services for survivors, funding prevention efforts, and ensuring that women’s rights organizations remain at the center of the conversation. These organizations are operating in an increasingly complex environment, facing not only the technical challenges of evolving technology but also a significant political pushback against gender equality.
One of the most innovative aspects of this response is the ACT to End Violence against Women Programme. Supported by the European Union, this initiative directly funds 60 women’s rights organizations globally. Recognizing that technology is a double-edged sword, the programme has launched the ACT AI School. This initiative is currently equipping more than 150 civil society organizations with the tools they need for digital safety and resilience. By building AI competencies, these organizations are learning how to use the very technology that is often used against them to protect their communities and advocate for safer digital spaces.
Furthermore, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women is providing critical backing to frontline organizations that deliver essential services to survivors. These are the people on the ground—the counselors, the legal advocates, and the community leaders—who provide the first line of defense against the trauma of online abuse. Coupled with the Spotlight Initiative, a massive, system-wide effort to break the cycle of violence both online and offline, these programs represent a comprehensive attempt to dismantle the structures that allow digital violence to flourish.
Yet, despite these efforts, the challenges remain formidable. One of the greatest hurdles is the culture of disbelief that survivors often encounter. Unlike physical violence, digital abuse is frequently dismissed as "not real" or "just the internet," leaving survivors to navigate their trauma without support. This culture is bolstered by a pervasive sense of impunity for abusers. Because digital harassment often crosses borders and utilizes anonymous platforms, holding perpetrators accountable is a legal and logistical nightmare. Implementation of remedial or protective measures consistently lags behind the rapid pace of technological innovation.
Perhaps most frustratingly, there is a massive power imbalance between the victims of this violence and the entities that host it. Enormously wealthy tech platforms operate with limited oversight, often prioritizing engagement and profit over the safety of their users. While women’s rights organizations struggle for the resources they need to provide basic services, the platforms where this violence occurs possess the resources to fix these issues but frequently lack the will to do so.
However, the international community is not powerless. The solutions to these challenges are within reach, provided there is the political will to implement them. The first step is the fundamental recognition of digital violence as real violence. It must be named, measured, and rejected with the same urgency as any other form of assault. This requires a cultural shift that starts with young people. We must work with boys and girls, men and women, to address the harmful norms and perceptions of masculinity that fuel online abuse. Education must focus on digital citizenship and the rejection of patterns of harassment.
Second, there must be a rigorous push for accountability within justice systems and technology companies. Our legal systems are currently failing to keep pace with the tools used by abusers. Laws must be updated to address the specificities of tech-facilitated violence, and international cooperation must be strengthened to ensure that the internet is no longer a safe haven for perpetrators. Simultaneously, technology companies must be held responsible for the safety of their platforms. Safety can no longer be an afterthought; it must be built into the architecture of digital tools from the very beginning.
Third, the global community must invest in prevention and response. The economic and social cost of violence against women is immense, far outweighing the cost of prevention. Yet, the work of protecting women and girls remains chronically underfunded. Investing in frontline organizations and survivor-led initiatives is not just a moral imperative; it is a practical necessity for any society that values equality and stability.
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 in the digital space for women, girls, and young people. This is an invaluable opportunity for Member States to secure global commitments to comprehensive legislation and accountability measures. It is a chance to pivot from a defensive posture to an offensive one, making technology an enabler of gender equality rather than a weapon of suppression.
Digital violence is not an inevitable byproduct of the technological age, nor is it an inescapable price of progress. It is a perversion of human vision and ingenuity. The tools that were designed to connect us should never be misused to intimidate and silence half of the world’s population. The refusal to accept this status quo is what will drive change. Every space, whether it is a physical boardroom or a digital forum, must be a place of safety, dignity, and equality. The work continues until every woman and girl can navigate the digital world without fear, ensuring that the future of technology is as inclusive as the human spirit that created it.
