Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino in UPPSALA, Sweden
TOMORROW the world starts commemorative events on 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) under the theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”.
These commemorations run from November 25 designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to December 10, which is Human Rights Day.
This year, the call for global solidarity to end violence against women and girls is looking at violence that is committed through the use of online, digital or social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp, among many others. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is also now part of weapons in the armoury of perpetrators of digital or online violence through use of deepfakes.
As commemorations start, it is also important to know that men and boys are also victims of the same challenge.
According to one global survey published by the United Nations, at least 38 percent of women have experienced online violence, while 85 percent have witnessed it. Against women and girls, AI-powered deepfake technology has been largely weaponised.
Further statistics show that up to 95 percent of online deepfakes are non-consensual pornographic images, and 99 per cent of those targeted are women. In these dynamics, to those who have access to internet connectivity, at least 1,8 billion women and girls lack legal protection from online abuse and harassment.
Like many other crises both the developed and developing nations are grappling with, technology-facilitated GBV against women adds another layer of what needs to be collaboratively addressed with a fierce urgency.
Like man-made or natural disasters, GBV does not select which gender to target, which class to affect and which race to inflict. It is a blind pandemic where all men and women are victims. Some speak out, while others suffer in silence. To others it acts as a way to seek revenge, yet others are victims just by being bystanders.
There is an emerging trend where people now use disparaging remarks on social media platforms towards other people to entertain and give fun to followers, bring humour to the digital streets and make them enjoy. This challenge is now prominently presenting itself as the gamification of online violence. Games, though competitive, are usually played for fun and entertainment. Likewise, on social media or online platforms, there is a coining of terms that are being used for fun, yet they have a torturous impact on the psychological and physical aspect of victims.
There are new terminologies that have been coined, though appearing to generate fun, have had an impact on those exposed to online violence.
The other prominent or rhetoric phrase with marginalising and violent connotations has been “vakadzi vachafa rinhi varume tisare tichifara?” (When shall women die so that men can enjoy life?).
These are instances used to mock, troll, harass and victimise others. Based on one’s physical condition, race, gender or class, there are no excuses that should be given to justify online violence against women and girls or anyone.
There are at least three things that technology forces people to do. It brings change that has not been called for, makes people commodification centred, and forces people to submit to its values. However, there is also a way for people to resist these forces only when they adopt technology and negotiate for a centrist approach that connects two extremes.
Once there is a negotiated approach in the adoption of technology, in this case using digital and social media platforms, there is need to find ways to initiate behavioural changes for people to use the platforms positively and even come up with policy. Social media and digital platforms can be adopted as a force for good to address the challenges being faced in attempts to end GBV.
Both men and women should start leading at the grassroots to influence change in how different groups perceive each other. Every platform should be a site to talk about ways to end GBV.
Where companies have GBV policies, they also need to add components of online violence in addressing GBV. Schools, churches and Government departments also need the same.
Studies conducted about online or digital violence against women in girls in Zimbabwe show one common trait. The violence is driven by patriarchy and hegemonic masculinities that are want to take the power of women from both the offline and online spaces. Women and girls are mainly attacked, harassed or trolled online because of interconnected factors that include their gender, class, background and sexuality, among others.
Cultural norms that reinforce the domination of women by men or of girls by boys need to be relooked at with an open but principled mind that puts all people at the foot of equality.
