LocationsEmpowering women in the Arab States region: raising awareness on digital violence and building safer online spaces
December 8, 2025
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains one of the most widespread human rights violations globally. It takes many forms, physical, sexual, psychological, and economic and affects women and girls across all communities, ages, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The growing expansion of the Internet, mobile, technologies, and social media has led to the existence of new forms of violence. Technology- facilitated violence against women and girls (TF-VAWG) is now emerging as a global concern with serious implications for societies and economies and the Arab States are no exception. Digital spaces can empower women, but they can also expose them to harassment, threats and targeted attacks that undermine their confidence, safety and ability to participate fully in public life.
A regional study found that among 60 percent of women who experienced online violence, 33 percent reported that the violence also occurred offline. Alarmingly, 12 percent of these women reported suicidal thoughts. Nearly half (49 percent) of women internet users in the Arab States reported feeling unsafe from online harassment. These findings remind us that digital violence is not only a virtual threat- but it also affects mental health, physical safety, and women's ability to participate meaningfully in society.
Women, who are a fundamental pillar of society and an essential partner in all fields, face significant obstacles to their participation in political life. During elections, targeted online abuse is often used to silence women candidate, discredit their qualifications and discourage them from public leadership. This type of violence not only poses a threat to women’s political participation but also weakens participation processes and deprives societies of women’s voices and critical contribution to the future of their communities.
This year, as the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – one of the most progressive international agreements on women’s rights to date – the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE 2025 campaign focuses on digital violence as one of the fastest-growing forms of threats to women and girls. The theme of 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence under the theme: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls” call upon governments, civil society, private sector and international organizations to ensure that digital spaces become safer, more inclusive and more empowering for women.
UNDP’s contribution to strengthening digital safety and supporting women’s leaders
Across the Arab States , UNDP is supporting efforts to protect women from digital abuse and strengthen their leadership in digital era.
Establishing Global Leadership Academy for Women in the Digital Era to empower women across the Arab region
Under Aspire initiative, UNDP launched the the Global Leadership Academy for Women in the Digital Era . The Academy equips women leaders with the knowledge, vision, support tools, and networks needed to navigate today’s turbulent global landscape. It empowers them with skills that will help women to protect themselves online, amplify their leadership style and engage safely and effectively in public life. The UNDP–UNEAD Leadership Academy responds to this urgent gap by bringing together women leaders from politics, institutions, and civil society, equipping them with the vision, tools, and networks to lead ethically, digitally, and effectively.
From Madrid (2023) to Doha (2024) and now Morocco (2025), the Academy has evolved into a truly global initiative, supported by Canada, Spain, and Sida to shape sustainable futures.
Empowering stories from women in the region
Samira Louka Head of Dialogue Sector, Coptic Evangelical, Organization for Social Services Member of the National Council for Human Rights in Egypt is one of the 60 women leaders who participated in 2025 Morocco edition of the global leadership academy for women in the digital era. She said that "Technology facilitated violence and the misuse of modern digital platforms are spreading at unprecedented levels. Misuse has become widespread, and it is now our ethical, human, and legal duty to establish mechanisms and procedures that protect users, especially women". She added "During my journey in the academy, I learned how we can work together to explore the challenges we face to shape the future of inclusive leadership in the digital age, and I am really proud of myself to play an active role in my society and support others."
Chowdhury Saima Ferdous, Member of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, said that “Every online interaction should empower, not endanger. Technology facilitated violence steals voices, destroys confidence, and silences the dreams of women and girls worldwide.” She added “Women must be equipped with knowledge and digital skills to navigate technology safely, and supported by strong, survivor centered reporting systems, I am happy to attend 2025 Morocco edition of the global leadership academy for women in the digital era to work on an action plan to promote women’s leadership within their institutions and communities to respond to digital-era challenges such as bias, disinformation, deepfakes, and erosion of public trust.”
Developing eMonitor+ online tool to detect online violence
Under the Arab States Partnership for Inclusive Rights in Elections (ASPIRE) initiative funded by Sweden, UNDP developed/ created eMonitor+ online tool, a suite of innovative digital tools leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to promote information integrity.
The eMonitor+ online tool, AI-powered system is trained to map digital space and monitor trends on various topics, such as misinformation, hate speech, political polarization, and online violence against women, journalists, and marginalized groups. This provides the foundation for informed, evidence-based strategies and works towards creating safer and more inclusive digital environments.
The platform, is an AI tool supports election commissions and media partners with real-time data to observe the prevalence of harmful violence patterns and nature, of online violence. This platform is already being used in Electoral Commissions in Tunisia and Lebanon and Jordan, and it works in four languages, Arabic, English, French, Spanish. In Jordan, The IEC, in collaboration with UNDP, used eMonitor+ to analyze digital media platforms during the electoral process for the 2024 Parliamentary elections.
The report produced by E-Monitor tool showed that Women candidates faced a high level of electoral violence, with female candidates being targeted in 95.54% of recorded cases, with almost half ( 45% ) of comments on posts containing electoral violence against women expressing support or encouraging of such violence, reflecting a social acceptance or implicit support for such practices in certain circles.
In Libya, first half of 2025, experienced an electoral movement reflected in holding municipal council elections amid sharp political polarization, which began with the Candidate Nomination phase. This was accompanied by intensive campaigns on social media.
Analysis of the online content from 1 January to 26 June 2025 (approximately 610 digital publications) highlighted that78% of cases show that the main goal of digital violence is to demoralize and deter women from public participation. Moreover,16.5% of women have experienced a direct societal impact such as marginalization, isolation, which confirms that online violence extends beyond platforms to affect women's social status in a conservative environment. The majority of posts related to online violence (73%) are direct verbal abuse through inappropriate and indecent descriptions, by questioning women’s integrity, abilities, and competence.
These patterns demonstrate how online violence is used to limit women’s visibility and influence, both online and offline.
Empowering women to build inclusive digital space
Over the years, significant strides have been made to fight gender-based violence. We must work continue working with our partners like Canada, Spain and Sweeden to support women by equipping them with tools and skills to promote safer, more inclusive digital spaces. UNDP is rallying communities, sparking conversations, and driving change against Gender-Based Violence. UNDP is investing in a future where violence is not just reduced but eradicated. Together, we can create a world free from fear and harm.
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