Khaberni - The world celebrates on the twenty-fifth of November each year, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to increase awareness of the forms of violence that women and girls are subjected to.
Gender-based digital violence is defined by UN Women as any act of violence that is committed or aided using information and communication technologies, such as mobile phones, the internet, social media, computer games, text messaging, email, etc., against women because they are women, resulting in psychological, physical, social, political, economic damages, among other rights-related and freedom violations.
According to a report by UN Women on violence against women in the digital space in Arab countries, the percentage of women in Jordan who were exposed to violence in 2020 was about 60.4%.
Digital violence against women and girls is an extension of gender-based violence, rooted in social inequality, extending its impact beyond the individual to include social consequences affecting the entire society, as it relies on the same basic patterns of gender discrimination, moving from reality to the digital space. This leads to women and girls suffering psychological, physical, and economic violence, thereby negatively impacting their participation in public life.
Digital violence is one of the most dangerous and complex issues, characterized by several features that intensify its severity, including the anonymity of the perpetrator, and its occurrence in a different environment, as distance does not present a barrier to the exercise of violence, in addition to the use of technological tools in its commission and its extended impact over long periods.
The danger of digital violence has increased due to women and girls not reporting various forms of violence they face; such as cyberbullying, harassment, and extortion, due to a lack of knowledge about laws and regulations, poor awareness of cyber security, in addition to their silence out of fear of their families and acquaintances learning about it, making them susceptible to social stigmatization within the community.
Jordan has taken multiple steps to reduce digital violence against women and girls, through updating laws and intensifying penalties, and these efforts have included: the Cybercrimes Law, the Personal Data Protection Law, and the Protection against Family Violence Law.
Additionally, the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of digital violence as a manifestation of gender-based violence is highlighted, as well as providing necessary protection for women and girls, creating a safe and fair space without discrimination, with a set of solutions proposed to create a secure digital environment for them:
Proposals:
1. Provide women and girls with the tools and knowledge necessary to protect themselves from digital violence.
2. Provide psychological, legal, and social support services for survivors of digital violence.
3. Launch programs targeting youth to reduce digital violence against women and girls.
4. Form national alliances to reduce digital violence against women and girls.
5. Include digital safety and security awareness in school and university curricula.
6. Conduct awareness campaigns targeting different societal segments about the risks of digital violence and prevention and reporting mechanisms.
