#16Days: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”. (This is the theme for the 16 Days in 2025)
UNWomens’s website tells that: (www.unwomen.org) digital abuse is one of the fastest growing forms of abuse.
They describe digital abuse as:
- Image-based abuse/ non-consensual sharing of intimate images – often called revenge porn or leaked nudes.
- Cyberbullying, trolling, and online threats.
- Online harassment and sexual harassment.
- AI-generated deepfakes such as sexually explicit images, deepfake pornography, and digitally manipulated images, videos or audio.
- Hate speech and disinformation on social media platforms.
- Doxxing – publishing private information.
- Online stalking or surveillance/tracking to monitor someone’s activities.
- Online grooming and sexual exploitation.
- Catfishing and impersonation.
- Misogynistic networks – e.g. manosphere, incel forums.
Digital tools are increasingly being used to stalk, harass, and abuse women and girls. These acts don’t just happen online. They often lead to offline violence in real life (IRL), such as coercion, physical abuse, and even femicide – killing of women and girls. The harm can be long-lasting and affect survivors over a prolonged period of time.
Digital violence targets women more than men, across all walks of life, but especially those with public or online visibility – such as activists, journalists, women in politics, human rights defenders, and young women.
The impact is even worse for women facing intersecting forms of discrimination, including race, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
These acts don’t just happen online. They often lead to offline violence in real life (IRL), such as coercion, physical abuse, and even femicide – killing of women and girls. The harm can be long-lasting and affect survivors over a prolonged period of time.
Digital violence targets women more than men, across all walks of life, but especially those with public or online visibility – such as activists, journalists, women in politics, human rights defenders, and young women.
The impact is even worse for women facing intersecting forms of discrimination, including race, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
A Prayer for Ending Digital Violence Against Women and Girls
Let us pray
Divine Presence of justice and compassion we come together with heavy hearts, aware of the growing shadow of digital violence that threatens women and girls across the world.
We name the pain of those who have suffered image-based abuse, cyberbullying, harassment, and the many forms of harm that begin online but reach into real lives.
We remember especially those whose voices are raised for justice—activists, journalists, leaders, and all who face greater risk because they dare to speak out.
We hold in our prayers those who endure compounded discrimination because of race, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Grant us courage to confront hate, wisdom to use technology for good, and solidarity to stand with survivors.
May our actions—online and offline—be guided by empathy, respect, and a commitment to end all forms of violence.
Let us unite in hope and determination, working for a world where every woman and girl is safe, valued, and free.May it be so AMEN
