Today is the 6th day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which runs from November 25th to December 10th, it is our annual time to stand together as a global sisterhood. It's a promise to work for a future where everyone is safe. Every year, we shine a light on violence, demand change, and celebrate the incredible strength of survivors.
This year, our focus is clear: We must end online harm against all women and girls.
The internet promised to be a lifeline. It connected activists across continents, helped women in rural areas find information, and gave us a place, like World Pulse, to share our stories.
But now, this digital space is also a battleground. From online bullying and stalking to the spread of fake images (deepfakes), digital violence is real violence. It is an organized way to scare, silence, and push women out of public life.
This harm especially targets women who are reporters, leaders, and activists. The attack may start on a screen, but the damage, fear, trauma, money loss, and less involvement in public life is felt in our real lives and communities.
This forces us to ask: How can we use the internet's power for good when it is being used against us?
The answer is in our strong, shared spirit. We must decide today to take back the technology. We need to look after our online community, our digital home with the same care and protection we give our physical neighborhoods. Your simple story has the power to break down bad rules.
This 16 Days, let's refresh our fight with three strong commitments we can make right now:
1. Be a Digital Mentor. Share the knowledge you have about online safety. Teach a friend how to protect her private details, speak up against cyberbullying, and report abuse instantly when you see it. We are stronger when we protect each other.
2. Demand Accountability. Use your voice to relentlessly call on technology companies and governments. Demand that they make our safety their number one priority by building clear laws and systems to punish those who cause harm.
3. Master the Tools. Make it your mission to gain the skills to not just use the internet, but to master it. The digital world should be a powerful tool for your career, your leadership, and your freedom not a place of fear.
The violence stops when we refuse to be quiet. When we turn the fear caused by a few into the collective power of millions, we win.
By joining our voices, online and in our communities, we will ensure the digital future is safe, equal, and empowering for everyone. Let’s make the internet the tool for global change it was always meant to be
#DigitalSafetyIsARight #EndViolenceAgainstWomen
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