Digital Violence – The New Frontier of Gender‑Based Abuse**

**“16 Days of Activism Against Gender‑Based Violence – Episode 1: Digital Violence & the New Minefield”** *Special Podcast Series – November 25 – December 10, 2025* --- ### 🎙️ Hosts - **Sharmin Prince** – Lead host, facilitator of the conversation. - * (Speaker 2) – Co‑host and advocate on digital‑rights & GBV. - **Linda (“Bonjour Linda”)** – Guest from Nairobi, Kenya, activist on the ground. --- ## 📚 Episode Overview | Approx. Minute | Segment | Key Takeaways | |----------------|---------|---------------| | **0:00‑2:00** | **Introduction** | • Launch of the 16‑Day campaign. • Goal: shine a light on the evolving forms of gender‑based violence (GBV). | | **2:00‑6:00** | **What “16 Days” means in Kenya** | • Linda explains the rarity of a global platform to discuss GBV. • Highlights the shift from traditional (physical, mental, sexual) abuse to **digital violence**. | | **6:00‑10:00** | **The “Shadow Pandemic”** | • Reference to UN SG Antonio Guterres calling GBV a “shadow pandemic.” • UN 2025 theme: **digital violence against all women and girls**. | | **10:00‑14:00** | **No Safe Space – The Reality** | • Women face abuse at work, home, community **and** online simultaneously. • Personal anecdote: Charmaine receiving online bullying while trying to share supportive content. | | **14:00‑18:00** | **Defining Digital Violence** | • *Doxing, deep‑fakes, stalking, cyber‑bullying, AI‑generated porn* – all classified as GBV. • Quote: “The digital world has become, I think the UN call it, a **minefield of harassment, abuse and control**.” | | **18:00‑22:00** | **Awareness Gap** | • Lack of knowledge is the biggest barrier. • Need for clear terminology so victims can recognise abuse. | | **22:00‑26:00** | **Education & Awareness Strategies** | • Weekly “Field of Courage” segments to spotlight a specific digital‑GBV form. • Blogging, social‑media threads, community workshops. | | **26:00‑30:00** | **AI & Deep‑Fakes** | • AI can **enhance** lives *and* facilitate abuse (e.g., non‑consensual porn). • Call to empower women: “If someone sends you another woman’s nudes, it is **not** your place to share them.” | | **30:00‑34:00** | **Children & the Digital Age** | • Kids’ early exposure to devices (Alexa, iPads) → risk of encountering adult content. • Emphasis on **critical thinking** over reliance on AI. | | **34:00‑38:00** | **The Role of Critical Thinking** | • “We are replacing the gift of our brain with technology.” • Need to teach children to **question** and **analyze** online information. | | **38:00‑42:00** | **Next Steps & Call to Action** | • Create a safe digital space for women & girls. • Encourage community‑wide education, policy advocacy, and tech‑platform accountability. | | **42:00‑44:00** | **Closing** | • Thank you from Kenya; promise to continue the conversation throughout the 16‑day period. | --- ## 🔑 Core Themes 1. **Digital Violence is GBV** – Doxing, deep‑fakes, cyber‑bullying, AI‑generated sexual content, and online stalking are all forms of gender‑based violence. 2. **The “Minefield” Metaphor** – The online environment is riddled with hidden dangers that can intersect with existing abuse (home, work, community). 3. **Awareness Gap** – Many people do not recognise digital harassment as violence; education is essential. 4. **Youth & Technology** – Early exposure to devices makes children vulnerable; critical thinking must be taught alongside digital literacy. 5. **Community‑Led Solutions** – Weekly spotlight segments, blogs, and local campaigns (e.g., UN “UNITE” digital‑abuse campaign) can create lasting change. --- ## 📌 Notable Quotes - *“The digital world has become, I think the UN call it, a **minefield of harassment, abuse and control**.”* – Shamim - *“When one person is educated, it will share because somebody will be like, ‘What? I didn’t know that.’ Then I’m sure when they’re having dinner or something, they’ll share it with somebody else. That’s how the tree will grow.”* – Linda - *“If someone sends you another woman’s nudes, it is **not** your place to share them. We should be our sister’s keeper.”* – Shamim - *“We cannot replace the gift of our brain with technology; we must use technology to **assist**, not to **misuse**.”* – Linda --- ## 🛠️ Resources & Calls to Action | Resource | What It Offers | Link | |----------|----------------|------| | **UN UNITE Campaign – Stop Digital Abuse** | Global toolkit, webinars, and advocacy material on digital GBV. | https://www.un.org/unite-digital-abuse | | **Digital Violence Awareness Guide (2025)** | Definitions, real‑world case studies, and reporting tools. | https://www.gbv2025.org/digital‑guide | | **Report ...