Zim Gvt, Civil Society must prevent digital violence against women and girls: MISA-Zim
By Delicious Mathuthu
The Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA-Zim) has challenged the Zimbabwean Government through its Chapter 12 Independent Commissions, as defined in the constitution, and the civil society to unite and fight against the growing digital violence against women and girls.
The call comes as the country joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women held on the 25th of November every year, which also marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence.
In a statement from Harare, Zimbabwe, on the 25th of November 2023, MISA-Zim Chairperson Golden Maunganidze said violence against women and girls through the internet such as online, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilited platforms, especially social media, has of late become a cause of concern, a serious breach of human rights.
“Violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide which is being worsened by targeting and attacking women including female journalists who are vocal online.
“…It is therefore important to acknowledge that the internet is being used in a broader environment of widespread and systemic structural discrimination and gender-based violence against women and girls, which frame their access to and use of the Internet and other ICT,” Maunganidze said.
As his constituency and that of MISA in general is the media, Maunganidze said the internet has been used to perpetrate gendered disinformation, stereotypes and target specific individuals and groups, and female journalists have not been spared.
“Online violence against women is worsened by gendered disinformation which includes false, misleading, or harmful content that exploits gender inequalities or invokes gender stereotypes and norms.
“It also involves targeting specific individuals or groups, for example female journalists or other women who are vocal online.
“This is of particular concern to MISA, as it negatively affects a significant constituency of its members who are journalists.
“…Several women, particularly female journalists and female politicians in Zimbabwe, have been victims of cyber-bullying and harassment, which has greatly affected the exercise of digital rights by women,” he said.
Maunganidze further said as this proliferates in Zimbabwe, internet users should be aware that there are regulation in place that protect against abuse of digital platforms to harm others.
“Zimbabwe’s Cyber and Data Protection Act has provisions that deal with cyber-bullying and harassment.
“Such provisions are progressive as far as women’s rights online are concerned,” he said.
He said the World Health Organisation believes ending such violence is possible if people unite without delay.
“MISA Zimbabwe urges the government, the country’s constitutional Chapter 12 Independent Commissions, civil society organisations and other key stakeholders to unite and intensify efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls, both offline and online,” he said.
During the 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence, MISA Zimbabwe will be shining the spotlight and raising awareness on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Resolution 522 on the Protection of Women Against Digital Violence in Africa, the organisation’s chair said.
“Resolution 522 highlights that: Digital violence is increasingly gendered and disproportionately affects women, through inter alia threats of sexual violence, misogynistic disinformation campaigns and ‘revenge pornography…’
“The Resolution encourages member states to undertake measures to safeguard women journalists from digital violence, including gender-sensitive media literacy and digital security training.
“It also calls on member states to facilitate cooperation between law enforcement and service providers to identify perpetrators and gather evidence for online harms.
“MISA Zimbabwe will thus be engaging the government to set in motion processes for the implementation of the recommendations of Resolution 522. The 16 Days of Activism will also be marked by campaigns to raise awareness and mobilise women and female journalists to articulate, demand and defend their right to free expression online,” said Maunganidze.
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