Creating safer digital spaces for women

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DAR ES SALAAM: FOR many young women, social media is a place to connect with friends, build careers and express themselves. But for thousands of others, it has become a space filled with fear, intimidation and abuse.

In Tanzania, nearly six in ten young women have experienced online harassment, while almost one in three have faced threats or the non-consensual sharing of their images.

As a result, one in four young women have reduced their use of social media to avoid abuse, according to studies conducted by WiLDAF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority between 2023 and 2024.

The findings highlight a growing form of Gender Based Violence (GBV) that extends beyond physical spaces into the digital world, where harassment, cyberstalking, abusive messages and image-based abuse are becoming increasingly common.

While technology has opened new opportunities for education, business and communication, it has also created new ways for women and girls to experience violence. Experts say online abuse can leave lasting emotional and psychological scars, affecting victims’ confidence, relationships and ability to participate freely in education, employment and public life.

Speaking during the National Symposium on Technology-Facilitated GBV in Dar es Salaam, Permanent Secretary in Zanzibar’s Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Abeida Rashid Abdalla, said protecting women and girls must now include making digital spaces safe.

“As we confront the growing threat of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, we must act decisively to ensure that our digital spaces are safe for all, especially for women and girls,” she said.

She said Zanzibar is strengthening coordination among government institutions, law enforcement agencies and community networks to prevent abuse, support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable, both offline and online. UNFPA Deputy Representative in Tanzania Melissa McNeil Barrett said technology should never become a tool for abuse.

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“Technology should be a tool for empowerment, not a platform for harm. As digital access expands, we must ensure women and girls can safely participate online without fear,” she said She said stronger partnerships between government, civil society, technology companies and development partners are helping improve survivor-centred responses while ensuring digital innovation advances gender equality.

Nearly four in ten married women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence from an intimate partner. At the same time, internet use continues to grow, with nearly 29 million Tanzanians now online.

As more women rely on digital platforms for work, business, education and communication, experts warn that online safety has become just as important as safety in homes, schools and workplaces.

During the symposium, participants reviewed national studies examining the risks facing women and girls online and discussed ways to strengthen laws, improve digital literacy and increase accountability among technology companies.

Discussions also explored the responsible use of artificial intelligence, stronger cooperation between public and private institutions and better support services for survivors of online abuse.

Finland’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Theresa Zitting, said addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence should become part of broader efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women. She said creating safe and inclusive digital spaces allows women and girls to participate fully in education, employment, leadership and community life without fear.

As technology continues to shape everyday life, ensuring that women and girls can use digital platforms safely is no longer simply a technology issue. It is a matter of protecting human rights, promoting equality and enabling every woman to participate confidently in the digital world.

Woman reporter3 weeks ago

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