UN agency launches campaign against online violence

Telegram, Facebook messenger and the WhatsApp applications logos displayed on the screen of an Apple iPhone. UNFPA has launched a global campaign to end online violence against women and girls.

Photo credit: Pool | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • The United Nations Population Fund has launched a global campaign dubbed Bodyright Movement to end online violence against women and girls.t
  • Ninety per cent of women report that online violence harms their sense of well-being and more than a third (35 per cent) have experienced mental health issues due to online violence.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched a global campaign dubbed Bodyright Movement to end online violence against women and girls.

The campaign drives the message that women, girls, racial and other marginalised groups are undervalued, exploited, and violated online.

It also highlights that corporate logos and copyrighted intellectual property are more highly valued and better protected than images of people’s bodies that are online.

The drive further seeks to have everyone hold policymakers, companies, and individuals to account on ending online violence.

“Relentless, borderless, and often anonymous, the online world is the new frontier for gender-based violence. It’s time for technology companies and policymakers to take digital violence seriously. Right now, corporate logos and copyrighted intellectual property receive greater protection online that we do as humans," said Dr Ntalia Kanem, the UNFPA executive director.

Cyber stalking

Reports of online harassment are widespread. From cyber stalking and hate speech, to doxxing and the non-consensual use of images and video such as deepfakes, online violence is rife.

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, 85 per cent of women with access to the internet reported witnessing online violence against other women, while 38 per cent experienced it.

Around 65 per cent of women surveyed have experienced cyber-harassment, hate speech and defamation, while 57 per cent have experienced video and image-based abuse and ‘astroturfing’, where damaging content is shared concurrently across platforms.

Nine out of 10 women (90 per cent) report that online violence harms their sense of well-being and more than a third (35 per cent) have experienced mental health issues due to online violence.

Digital violence

UNFPA has partnered with award-winning poet and spoken-word artist Rakaya Fetuga to launch the campaign. She has authored and performed spoken-word poetry communicating the impact of online violence and the concept of Bodyright.

To further advocate action from governments, policymakers, tech companies and social media platforms, the agency has launched a petition, hosted by Global Citizen, demanding tangible action to end digital violence and abuse.