The slogan “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls” captures a growing reality—violence against women is no longer confined to homes, streets, or workplaces. It now thrives online.
Violence against women is one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world. It has many forms: physical assault, sexual harassment, emotional abuse, trafficking, online harassment and institutional discrimination. Despite growing awareness, millions of women still suffer in silence. Cultural norms, fear of retaliation, weak legal systems, and social stigma keep many from speaking out. With the rise of digital platforms, social media has emerged as a powerful space that can both challenge and complicate the fight against gender-based violence.
Domestic abuse, often hidden within intimate relationships, is one of the mostly reported forms of violence against women. It usually involves physical harm, threats and coercive control.
Sexual violence and harassment, including rape, molestation, stalking, and unwanted advances, remain deeply underreported due to fear of social repercussions. Psychological abuses like humiliation, manipulation, intimidation, and isolation deeply damage women's mental health but are often dismissed. Economic violence, on the other hand, restricts women’s access to money, work, or education, reinforcing dependency and inequality.
Digital violence is now among the fastest-growing threats. Women face online harassment, cyberstalking, doxing, and revenge pornography. New technologies have added new risks. Deepfake pornography, coordinated trolling, rape threats, and gendered disinformation are becoming increasingly common.
Social media use is expanding rapidly. In Nepal, the government’s push to provide free public Wi-Fi, including in remote areas, has widened digital access. Easy access to the internet is beneficial to people in many ways. But it also increases exposure to harm. Many users lack digital literacy. Misinformation spreads easily. People often accept what they see online without questioning its accuracy. Social media is currently playing a dual role in Nepali society and most of the world, both as a tool that empowers victims and as a platform where new forms of violence occur.
Globally, millions of women experience violence every day. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 5 calls for gender equality and the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. Every country has pledged to protect and promote women in all sectors. However, the implementation aspect remains uneven.
Abuse now comes not only from people, but also through technology itself, including artificial intelligence. This makes protection more complex, especially for vulnerable groups.
Still, social media can be part of the solution. Online movements such as #MeToo, #TimesUp, and #SayHerName have shown how platforms can amplify survivors’ voices and break long-standing silence. Similarly, social media connects women to support networks, counselors, NGOs, and legal aid. Online communities can offer emotional support and help victims regain confidence. Digital platforms also help document abuse. Screenshots, messages, and videos can serve as crucial evidence in cases of harassment or threats. Likewise, public pressure generated online has forced governments, companies, and institutions to revisit policies on workplace safety, harassment, and gender representation.
At the same time, the harm cannot be ignored. Social media companies must do more to curb cyberbullying, online harassment, misinformation, and privacy violations.
Violence against women is a global crisis rooted in inequality and sustained by silence. Social media has become a powerful force in this struggle—for better and for worse. It is our collective responsibility to make it a tool for protection rather than harm. We must have stronger laws, safer digital practices, accountable platforms, and a culture that supports and listens to women. Ending violence against women begins with acknowledging the presence, amplifying voices, and using every available tool, including social media, to build a safer and more equal world.
(Ghising is an Inspector of Nepal Police)
