Women and girls are the most impacted by digital violence. The term used to describe digital violence is also 'Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence' (TFGBV). According to UNFPA's document on 'Technology-facilitated Gender-based Violence: Making All Spaces Safe', while the digitalization of the world represents significant opportunity, it is also a space through which harm may be perpetrated. Research indicates that at least 38 per cent of women globally have personally experienced online violence and that this rate is rising. Certain groups of women are at a higher risk because of what they do, who they are or if they access certain information and services. This includes women journalists, politicians, women activists and feminists, academics and young people. Of the adolescent girls who do have access to digital technologies, 64 per cent are high users and are particularly vulnerable to TFGBV. 

[Source: UNFPA, 2021. https://www.unfpa.org/publications/technology-facilitated-gender-based-violence-making-all-spaces-safe

Digital safety and digital integrity is compromised every singe day. If we have to achieve SDG 5.2 and control digital violence against women by 2030, we need to act now. A petition to enhance gender development initiatives to incorporate the importance of digital safety and inculcating digital integrity into school curriculums is critical to the prevention of digital violence. Let us join hands to end all forms of digital theft and digital violence stemming from TFGBV! The advances and strides made in the field of AI and 5G makes one consider the importance of addressing digital security one to ten times higher than we should.

Let us sign a petition today to preserve digital integrity and enhance digital safety measures, globally! We need responsible Global Citizens to take action and end digital violence via powerful empowerment in all institutions.