Theme: Secure Her Space: Building Safer Digital Worlds for Women

The Problem
Digital platforms have become essential for education, work, and social connection but for millions of women, they are also sites of harassment, surveillance, and abuse.

Over 85% of women globally have witnessed online violence, and 40% have personally experienced it (UN Women, 2023).

From doxxing and deepfakes to cyberstalking and gendered hate speech, the threats are evolving and disproportionately silencing women’s voices.

This digital insecurity undermines progress on gender equality, mental health, and economic empowerment.

Why This Matters
When women are unsafe online, they withdraw from public discourse, leadership, and opportunity.

This affects families, workplaces, and entire communities, especially in regions where digital access is a lifeline.

A safer internet for women means a stronger, more inclusive society for all.

Recommended Actions

• Enforce Gender-Sensitive Cyber Laws: Strengthen legislation to criminalize online gender-based violence and ensure swift justice.
• Fund Digital Literacy & Safety Programs: Equip women and girls with tools to protect themselves and report abuse.
• Mandate Platform Accountability: Require tech companies to publish gender-disaggregated safety data and implement transparent moderation policies.

Call to Action
We cannot build inclusive digital economies or democratic societies while half the population is under threat.

Policymakers, civil society, and tech leaders must act now to make digital spaces safe, equitable, and empowering for women.

Let us secure her space because every click should be free from fear.

Here are the key references and links to support your policy call to action:

References & Sources

1. UN Women – Ending Violence Against Women
   • Statistic: Over 85% of women have witnessed online violence; 38% have experienced it firsthand.
   • Source: UN Women Facts and Figures
2. UN Commission on the Status of Women (2023)
   • Insight: Global leaders emphasized the urgency of addressing digital violence and closing the gender digital divide.
   • Source: UN Press Release on Digital Violence
3. Internews Report on Online Gendered Hate Speech (2023)
   • Statistic: In Ireland, 96% of female politicians reported online abuse; 1 in 5 considered quitting politics.
4. Our Secure Future – Hate Speech and Women’s Security

• Impact: Gendered hate speech silences women in politics and civic spaces, undermining democratic participation.
• Source: Why Hate Speech Is a Barrier to Women, Peace and Security

By Doris Amankwah, Cybersecurity Consultant & PCI DSS Advocate