‘Online abuse of women, a major.....

‘Online abuse of women, a major worry'

U.N. report draws attention to new forms of violence such as stalking and trolling

The United Nations Broadband Commission has found that 73 per cent of women reported facing violence online. The report ‘ Cyberviolence against women and girls: A world-wide wake up call’ launched recently at the U.N. headquarters flags the challenges thrown up by the new digital era in which the increased use of the Internet and mobile gadgets has unleashed new forms of violence such as stalking, trolling and abuse of women online.

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark said given the thrust on promoting Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by 193 world leaders here on Friday, there is need to address gender-based violence in all its forms, including cyberviolence.

“Goal 5 of the SDGs which calls for achieving gender equality must be seen together with Goal 16, which calls for promoting peace, access to justice, and strengthening institutions to address violence. We cannot hope to achieve gender equality without addressing gender-based violence in all its possible forms,” she said.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, said technology actively promoted gender inequality by excluding women who cannot access ICTs in the first place and, if they do, by promoting women’s violence online. She expressed concern over sex trafficking and child pornography being increasingly promoted online. Referring to the stalking and abuse of U.N. Women ambassador and actor Emma Watson online, Ms. Mlambo-Ngucka said the mental stress women subjected to such abuse underwent was no less in degree than physical violence at home.

“Stalkers and abusers online take advantage of anonymity and are also encouraged by the viral nature of the online medium which provides instant fame,” she observed.