Across Africa, women and girls are facing a rapid rise in digital violence that includes cyber-harassment, online threats, stalking, the non-consensual sharing of images, and the creation of sexually exploitative deepfakes. These forms of abuse increasingly shape how safe women feel participating in online spaces that are essential for education, work, activism, and public life. Digital violence restricts women’s freedom of expression, discourages political engagement, and can inflict significant emotional and psychological harm. Many survivors withdraw from online platforms entirely, resulting in fewer women’s voices in civic and professional arenas. Weak legal protections, limited digital literacy, and fragmented reporting mechanisms allow this violence to spread with few consequences for perpetrators. Efforts across the continent are focusing on strengthening laws, expanding cross-border cooperation to address digital crimes, improving support systems for survivors, and integrating digital safety into broader gender-equality work. Addressing digital violence is now seen as essential to ensuring that women and girls can fully access the opportunities of an increasingly digital world.
Compiled From: Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, “Ending digital violence is Africa’s next chapter in equality for women and girls,” Africa Renewal / UN Women, Nov. 28, 2025.