UN Women WCARO Marks the UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls through the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
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UN Women West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) is proud to launch the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December 2025. This year’s campaign, themed “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” calls for urgent action to address one of the most pervasive human rights violations of our time. Despite a lack of global comparable data, studies show the prevalence of digital VAWG to be between 16% to 58%.
Digital violence is a human rights crisis—and a regional emergency. Across West and Central Africa, digital violence is escalating, especially in conflict-affected areas such as the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, and eastern DRC, where women human rights defenders face coordinated online attacks. Women with high levels of public visibility including journalists, human rights defenders, politicians, and feminist activists, as well as young women, are at heightened risk of digital violence. 1 out of 4 women journalists and 1 in 3 women parliamentarians reported having received online threats of physical violence, including death threats. In humanitarian contexts, digital violence intersects with displacement, economic vulnerability, and limited access to justice.
Regional frameworks including the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (2025) recognize violence in cyberspace and calls for protection of displaced, stateless, and refugee women and girls. We urge governments to align national laws with the Maputo Protocol and the AU Convention to enforce digital VAWG legislation with survivor-centered, gender-responsive justice systems.
We commend the AU’s development of the Africa Digital Compact and encourage Member States to foster an approach towards its use and implementation, that promotes the safety and access of women and girls in these spaces.
Technology companies must be part of the solution. West and Central Africa is home to remarkable digital innovation—our region’s tech entrepreneurs, start-ups, and digital communities are creating new opportunities for connection, empowerment, and economic growth. These innovations show the potential of technology to drive positive change for women and girls.
At the same time, tech platforms can be spaces that amplify misogyny and often fail to protect women. There is limited accountability for developers and no regional standard for platform safety. This is not just a challenge, but an opportunity: by working together, we can set new standards for transparency, safety-by-design, and survivor-centered digital environments. We call for technology companies to join forces with governments, civil society, and digital safety coalitions to monitor platforms, advocate for survivor-centered design, and ensure that the digital future is safe and empowering for all women and girls.
Women’s rights organisations and feminist movements are leading the way—but need resources. Women’s rights organizations are at the forefront of digital safety and survivor support but remain underfunded, especially in conflict-affected and rural areas. We call on partners to fund feminist organizations as frontline responders and prioritize support for digital literacy, survivor services, and movement-building in fragile contexts.
Youth and men must be engaged to shift norms and end harmful narratives online. Online misogyny is spreading rapidly among young men and boys. Without proactive engagement, harmful masculinities will continue to fuel violence both online and offline. We urge investment in youth-led digital literacy and prevention campaigns, and the mobilization of male influencers and educators to challenge misogyny and promote respectful digital behavior.
Digital literacy is protection—especially for the most marginalized. Women and girls with limited access to digital tools and education are at greater risk of exploitation, surveillance, and economic abuse. Disinformation campaigns, online harassment of SRHR advocates, and censorship of accurate health information are rising across the region. We call for the integration of digital safety into school curricula and community programs, investment in digital health literacy, and equitable access to safe, affordable digital tools.
During these 16 Days, UN Women WCARO will amplify survivor voices, promote digital literacy, and work with governments, civil society, and the private sector to ensure every woman and girl can participate fully and safely—online and offline. We invite everyone to wear orange, share stories, and make their voices heard. The 16 Days of Activism is not just a campaign—it is a call to personal, collective action and accountability, underscoring the fact that every woman and girl deserves to live free from violence.
Together, let us UNiTE to end violence against women and girls in our region and beyond.