“Technology-facilitated gender-based violence a th...

“Technology-facilitated gender-based violence a threat to equality"

**Sally Ncube (photo credit : Steve Kagia and Y-Act)**

MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is a growing concern that is threatening the gains made to achieve equality, Equality Now, Regional Representative for Southern Africa, Sally Ncube has said.

Ncube added that there is need for concerted efforts to tackle TFGBV, which is the use of social media, messaging applications and smart devices to harm based on gender.

She revealed this as she delivered Equality Now’s solidarity remarks at the recently held 7th Southern Africa Youth Forum in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The 7th Southern Africa Youth Forum was held under the theme “Pan-Africanism in Action: Mobilising Youth for Sustainable Development and Civic Engagement”.

“Adolescents and youth are at risk of harmful cultural practices, including child marriage and female genital mutilation, sex trafficking, online harms and Technology-facilitated gender-based violence, legal inequalities, and marginalisation in decision-making and policy-making processes, platforms, and structures of governance in Southern Africa.

“TFGBV is a growing global concern, using social media, messaging apps, and smart devices to harm based on gender, women and girls are disproportionately affected.

“The SADC Model Law on GBV offers strong guidance, covering online exploitation, trafficking, and cyberbullying, but we must close gaps in enforcement, survivor protection, and cross-border cooperation,” said Ncube.

She added that as Equality Now, they are dedicated to creating a just world for women and girls and they are leading initiatives that advance gender equality both online and offline.

“One such initiative is the Alliance for Universal Digital Rights, a global coalition of over 45 civil society organisations with strong membership from Africa, including Southern Africa.

“AUDRI was founded in 2022 by Equality Now and Women Leading in AI.

“We advocate for a feminist-informed digital future that upholds fundamental human rights, especially for women, girls, and marginalised communities who experience the greatest harm in digital spaces.

“In recent years, significant progress has been made in recognising digital rights, advancing legal reforms, and developing programs promoting inclusion and accountability for digital governance worldwide.

“The Pact for the Future, of which the Global Digital Compact (the GDC) is part, was adopted in September 2024. AUDRi, along with others in a Gender in the GDC coalition, successfully advocated for the inclusion of a standalone action line on gender in the GDC.

“However, as we move from global political commitments to localisation and context-based implementation, there is a need to facilitate platforms for raising awareness on existing commitments, international law frameworks, oversight and accountability mechanisms and institutions in place,” said Ncube.

She added that AUDRi’s Africa Cluster will push for a robust regional civil society movement to ensure digital rights have a gender dimension and address the urgency of inclusion and equality in all processes accompanying the fast pace of technology development, and mitigate harms such as TFGBV, which draw back and foster rights violations with impunity.

“Existing mechanisms and frameworks face enormous challenges, particularly related to their effective implementation, including critical areas such as survivor protection and support, enforcement and accountability across the region.

“This necessitates continued efforts in cross-border cooperation, capacity building, and addressing the underlying vulnerabilities that contribute to harm against women, girls and other vulnerable groups.

“SADC must recognise that women and girls in the global majority and the Southern African region are particularly vulnerable to harms such as bias in AI datasets, the effects of climate change from ICT infrastructure, a deepening digital divide exacerbated by emerging technology, and a rise in TFGBV.

“To adequately address these risks, we urge SAYF and SADC Youth Parliament to ensure that Member States integrate the feminist digital principles into all aspects of digital rights.

“The core principles of openness, freedom, and security must be infused with an intersectional feminist perspective to ensure that the ongoing digital transformation of our economies and societies can usher in a gender-just world that affirms all individuals and their path to self-actualisation.”

Ncube also called for feminist digital principles which include ensuring concrete commitments to close the youth digital divide through accelerating legal and budget reforms for rural and disability inclusive digital access, supported by education reforms to teach digital skills early, with gender equality in all learning institutions.

And she also called for strengthening of laws to ensure legal and policy frameworks that protect the digital rights of women and girls and marginalised groups against GBV, misinformation, and cyberbullying, guided by the AU’s 2024 Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy and ensure effective and inclusive youth and gender responsive oversight.

“Guarantee freedom from technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

“Promote universal rights to freedom of expression, privacy, peaceful assembly, and participation of women and girls in all their diversity in all aspects of life.

“Ensure universal, affordable, accessible, and safe internet access for all.

“Demand strict action against harmful surveillance applications and high-risk AI systems, and set safeguards to prevent discriminatory biases.

“Increase and expand young women’s participation and leadership in digital governance at all levels and in technology.

“Prioritise strategies that reduce the environmental impact of new technologies

“Implement measures for states and transnational corporations to ensure data privacy, governance, and consent.

“Adopt Equality-by-Design principles and a human-rights-based approach throughout all phases of digital technology development.

“Re-shape the participation and role of women in accessing and using digital technology. And address its potential impacts on labour and entrepreneurship,” she added.

Ncube also called on the SADC Member States to endorse these principles, joining other governments such as Brazil.

And she added that there is need for the full implementation of the GDC over the next few years, with particular efforts to employ an inclusive multi-stakeholder approach towards national and regional GDC monitoring, evaluation, and implementation, including the mid-term review process.