Digital violence targeting women has become a global reality, demanding coordinated action from governments, tech companies, civil society, and international partners.
In Bangladesh, women are routinely targeted by online stalkers, underscoring the urgent need to enact the long-pending Sexual Harassment Prevention and Protection Ordinance, speakers said at an event on gender-based violence in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA), the Local Consultative Group on Women’s Advancement and Gender Equality, and the United Nations formally launched the 2025 global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence under the national theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls” at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre, according to a UN Women press release.
According to World Bank data, fewer than 40 percent of countries have laws addressing cyber harassment or cyberstalking, leaving 44 percent of the world’s women and girls—around 1.8 billion people—without any form of legal protection. Forms of abuse range from online harassment and cyberstalking to deepfakes and gendered disinformation, contributing to a climate that silences women’s voices and undermines their rights.
Speakers said digital violence is no longer simply a technological concern but a human rights and development challenge that restricts women’s freedom, safety, and participation in public life. They called for strengthened legal frameworks, greater accountability from technology companies, survivor-centred support services, and increased investment in digital literacy and social norm change.
The chief guest at the event, Ms Sharmeen S Murshid, adviser to MoWCA, highlighted the severity of the issue: “Earlier, a girl could not walk down a street without worrying about eve teasing; now you cannot enter your cyberspace without being stalked. And the stalking world has become huge. It’s not just a boy from a neighbourhood—it’s anybody anywhere in the world who can hunt your dignity.”
Ms Mamtaz Ahmed, senior secretary of MoWCA, stressed the need for stronger laws, coordinated institutional responses, and public awareness. Development partners echoed that digital violence is a global problem demanding collective action.
Australian High Commissioner Susan Ryle urged cross-sector collaboration so that technology becomes a tool for empowerment, not harm: “It’s not just a women’s issue; it’s an issue for all of us.”
Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks underscored the importance of enforcement: “Proper implementation of existing laws is needed to ensure access to justice for victims. It also signals to perpetrators that these crimes will not go unpunished.”
The ambassador also stressed the urgency of enacting a long-pending Sexual Harassment Prevention and Protection Ordinance.
UN Women Representative Gitanjali Singh highlighted the global scale: “Between 16 and 58 percent of women and girls worldwide face online violence. Abuse in digital spaces often spills into real life, silencing women and restricting their participation in public life.”
UNFPA Representative Catherine Breen Kamkong called for improved investigative frameworks and survivor-centred approaches.
A high-level panel discussion identified persistent gaps, including limited evidence-based policymaking, weak enforcement, low digital literacy among women and girls, and the absence of a coordinated national system for reporting and responding to online harms. Participants emphasized that digital violence is intertwined with societal norms and power structures, requiring integrated strategies across prevention, protection, and accountability.
