The government, together with the country’s constitutional Independent Commissions Supporting Democracy and civil society organisations, should unite and intensify efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls offline and online.
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.
According to the World Health Organisation, it is possible to end this violence, but only if we act together. Now!
As the world commemorates the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, MISA Zimbabwe reaffirms its commitment to eliminating violence against women, particularly female journalists, by raising awareness on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Resolution 522 on the Protection of Women Against Digital Violence in Africa.
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…”
MISA Zimbabwe urges the government and other key stakeholders to implement the recommendations of Resolution 522.
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.
In that regard, MISA Zimbabwe has engaged the government and legislators as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s legal framework to address online violence against women.
The 16 Days of Activism is an annual international civil society-led campaign that commences on 25 November, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December.
