Media advocacy campaign can prevent digital violence: Farzana Sharmin

While the rapid expansion of digital technology in Bangladesh has created new economic and social opportunities, its misuse has also opened new avenues of violence against women. Technology-facilitated gender-based violence, online harassment, and digital sexual abuse have now emerged as major social and human rights challenges. In this context, a national-level media advocacy initiative has been launched to ensure women’s safety and rights.

On Tuesday (May 19), a discussion on national-level media advocacy to address “Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence” was held at the conference room of the Economic Reporters’ Forum in the capital. Representatives from various government agencies, development organizations, media outlets, and civil society participated in the event. The discussion emphasized preventing digital violence, ensuring women’s safety, and adopting coordinated policy initiatives.

The chief guest at the event was State Minister for Social Welfare Barrister Farzana Sharmin, MP. Special guests included Dr. Mohammad Zakaria, Director General (Secretary) of the NGO Affairs Bureau under the Prime Minister’s Office; Shaila Sharmin Zaman, Director General (Additional Secretary) of the Department of Women Affairs; and Rasheda K. Chowdhury, former adviser and executive director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE). The session was chaired by Shah Mohammad Mahbub, Director General (Additional Secretary) of the Department of Social Services. Speakers stressed that coordinated initiatives, responsible media roles, and effective policy measures are now essential to prevent the misuse of digital technology.

The initiative is being implemented by Light House, a human rights and development-oriented voluntary organization that has long worked for the development and rights of marginalized communities. The project is being carried out as part of the Civic Engagement Fund (CEF) program. It is funded by Switzerland, Canada, and the European Union, with implementation support from GFA Consulting Group.

In recent years, the expansion of information and communication technology in Bangladesh has accelerated rapidly. With smartphones and internet access becoming widely available, a large portion of the population is now active on digital platforms. As a result, women are gaining new opportunities in education, entrepreneurship, freelancing, and social networking. However, at the same time, incidents of online violence against women are increasing alarmingly.

According to research, around 71 percent of the country’s population uses the internet, and approximately 29 percent are active on social media. Alongside this growing digital presence, the rate of online harassment against women has also risen significantly. Studies show that around 63.51 percent of women have experienced some form of online violence at some point in their lives. Among them, 80.35 percent received obscene or sexually harassing comments, 53.28 percent received sexual propositions or explicit images, and in 17.47 percent of cases, harassment was carried out using fake IDs. Alarmingly, nearly 85 percent of victims do not file any complaint, further weakening the justice process.

Recent observations also show that online violence is steadily increasing. In 2017, 73 percent of female internet users experienced some form of cyber harassment, which rose to nearly 80 percent by 2021. In 2024, 9,117 complaints were recorded on cyber support platforms, indicating the rapid spread of technology-facilitated violence. Research also noted that nearly 65 percent of women suffer from mental stress, anxiety, or depression due to online violence, while 42.79 percent become discouraged from expressing opinions on social media. These findings clearly demonstrate that digital violence is not merely an online issue; it has a profound impact on women’s social participation and mental health.

Experts say that the biggest challenge of digital violence is its widespread nature and secrecy. Many victims avoid filing complaints due to social stigma, fear, or concerns about not receiving justice. Legal protections and social awareness have yet to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology, leaving victims at greater risk.

In this context, the primary goals of the media advocacy initiative are to increase public awareness, draw policymakers’ attention, create a victim-friendly environment, ensure responsible journalism, disseminate information about support services, and educate people about safe digital behavior. Another important objective is to foster empathy and ensure safety for women and adolescent girls through changing social attitudes.

According to experts, changing social mindsets is just as important as strengthening laws. By bringing together the media, policymakers, and civil society, this initiative can play a significant role in building a safer digital society.

It is worth mentioning that Light House is a human rights and development-oriented voluntary organization. Since 1988, it has been working for the development of rural and urban poor, marginalized and high-risk populations, hijra communities, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, farmers, disaster-affected communities, and other disadvantaged groups in Bangladesh.