The Silent Toll of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence on Persons with Disabilities

As digital technologies become deeply woven into everyday life, a new frontier of gender-based violence is emerging, one that is often invisible, underreported and devastating for survivors. Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), defined as any act of violence committed, assisted, aggravated or amplified through the use of information and communication technologies or digital media against a person on the basis of their gender, is increasingly affecting women and girls across Kenya. It includes image-based sexual abuse, cyberbullying, impersonation, online harassment, cyberstalking and the non-consensual sharing of intimate content.

Yet for many persons with disabilities, this violence often unfolds in silence, hidden behind barriers to access, communication, reporting and justice.

Limited access to accessible digital safety information, communication barriers, stigma and inaccessible reporting systems leave many victims isolated and unaware of where to seek help.

That limited awareness is one of the biggest challenges facing persons with disabilities in the digital age. Many depend on digital platforms for communication, education, employment and access to services, yet information on digital safety is rarely available in accessible formats. Reporting mechanisms are often inaccessible, while emerging online threats are seldom communicated in sign language, leaving many deaf people unaware of the dangers they face or where to seek help.

Recognizing the growing risks posed by online abuse, Inclusion Bridge Africa, in partnership with Shield Maidens, organized a digital safety awareness training for members of the deaf community. The training focused on technology-facilitated gender-based violence, digital safety practices and reporting mechanisms.

For participants, the training was their first exposure to concepts such as image-based violence, cyberbullying, impersonation and other forms of online abuse. It enabled them to better understand the risks they face online and recognize that some of the experiences affecting their community were forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

During the training, they learned about image-based violence, cyberbullying, impersonation and other forms of online abuse. The sessions also provided a safe and inclusive environment where members of the deaf community could openly discuss their experiences, exchange knowledge and explore strategies for staying safe online.

Participants described the programme as groundbreaking, noting that many members of the deaf community had never received training specifically focused on technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Discussions during the training revealed significant gaps in awareness, despite evidence that various forms of online violence were occurring within the community.

The training highlighted the importance of responding to survivors with empathy and support rather than blame. Participants emphasized the need for safe spaces where survivors can speak openly about their experiences, access support services and begin the healing process. The discussions also underscored the severe emotional and psychological impact that online abuse can have on survivors when they are left isolated or without support.

Members of the deaf community further stressed the need for stronger legal and technological safeguards to address online abuse. They called for strengthened policies, improved accountability for perpetrators and more accessible reporting mechanisms for persons with disabilities.

Participants also recommended that technology companies develop systems capable of detecting and limiting the rapid spread of intimate images shared without consent, helping to prevent further harm to survivors.

These recommendations reinforce the work being championed by Sumaiyya Juma, founder of Shield Maidens and an alumna of the UN Women African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI).

The African Girls Can Code Initiative, implemented by UN Women in partnership with the African Union Commission and the International Telecommunication Union with the gracious support of Siemens AG and GIZ, equips young African women with digital, coding and leadership skills to increase their participation in the technology sector. Many of its alumni are now using those skills to address pressing social challenges through innovation and community leadership.

Inspired by the initiative, Juma founded Shield Maidens to promote digital safety and security for young women, girls and persons with disabilities while advocating against technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

"We train young women, girls and persons with disabilities on digital safety and security practices while advocating against technology-facilitated gender-based violence through training, advocacy and inclusion," she says.

Recognizing that persons with disabilities are often left out of digital safety conversations, Shield Maidens partnered with Inclusion Bridge Africa to conduct a two-day training tailored specifically for the deaf community.

"In our work, we realized there is a huge gap when it comes to inclusion," says Juma. "Most members of the deaf community are not aware of technological trends or online safety information because much of that information is designed for people who can hear. For them, information has to be seen and communicated through sign language."

She says the organization hopes to extend similar programmes to other disability groups because each community faces unique challenges online.

"There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to persons with disabilities," she says. "These are small but important steps towards making the technology space more inclusive."

Juma believes true digital inclusion goes beyond developing accessible technologies. It also requires ensuring that persons with disabilities have the knowledge and confidence to navigate online spaces safely.

"We want to work with different disability groups so they understand digital safety practices, identify technology-facilitated gender-based violence and know how to respond," she says. "Let's make the tech world inclusive, not just by building technology for persons with disabilities, but by including them and training them."

For many persons with disabilities who have experienced or are at risk of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, this vision offers hope. Their experiences highlight the urgent need to ensure that digital inclusion extends beyond access to technology and encompasses safety, dignity and justice for all users. As society continues to embrace the digital age, no one should be left behind, especially those whose voices are too often unheard.