Uniting to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls
As we observe the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Africans Rising reaffirms its commitment to eradicating digital violence against women and girls. Our newly inaugurated Feminist Task Force joins the global call to action, highlighting the alarming rise of online violence targeting women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals.
This year’s theme, Unite To End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls, underscores the urgent need for collective action. Online spaces, meant to facilitate expression and innovation, have become breeding grounds for harassment, surveillance, and abuse. The growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in perpetuating this violence is particularly concerning. Deepfake pornography, AI-generated harassment, and algorithmic hate speech are just a few examples of the devastating impact of these technologies.
We condemn the misuse of AI and advocate for responsible design, regulation, and accountability. We will center survivor experiences, promote digital literacy, and support efforts to restore dignity and power to those targeted. Digital violence is a manifestation of the same patriarchal systems that enable physical violence. We commit to challenging these abuses, strengthening digital safety education, and advocating for legal and systemic protection.
As we wrap up the 16 Days of Activism , we will continue to mobilize our network to raise awareness, amplify survivor voices, and hold digital platforms and governments accountable. We call on governments, civil society, community leaders, and technology companies to join us in this effort. Digital violence is real violence, it must be named, challenged, and dismantled.
Let us unite to end digital and all forms of violence against women and girls!
