As Eswatini accelerates its digital transformation, the promise of technology to drive inclusive growth and opportunity is clearer than ever. Yet, as we commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December – we must also confront the darker side of this progress: the rise of gender-based violence (GBV) on social media and digital platforms.

Digital Transformation: Opportunity and Risk

UNDP Eswatini is proud to support the country’s digital journey. In 2024, we partnered with the Government of Eswatini and the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology to conduct a Digital Readiness Assessment. This landmark study provided a comprehensive view of Eswatini’s digital landscape, highlighting both the opportunities and the vulnerabilities that come with rapid technological change.

Digital platforms have become essential for communication, learning, and economic participation. However, they have also created new spaces where violence against women and girls (VAWG) can occur. Social media has enabled new forms of abuse – ranging from online harassment and hate speech to image-based abuse and gendered disinformation. These acts are not isolated; they are part of a broader continuum of violence that affects women and girls (in all their diversity) both online and offline.

The Reality of Online Gender-Based Violence

Globally, one in three women experiences violence in their lifetime. In the digital age, this violence is taking on new forms. Perpetrators use social media and other digital tools to inflict harm, control, and intimidate. Women with high online visibility – such as journalists, activists, and public figures – are especially vulnerable to coordinated digital attacks. Nearly 28% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa are reporting online abuse including harassment and stalking. Women in public life face severe online targeting with 46% of female parliamentarians and 73% of women journalists report digital attacks, while 58% of young women and girls have experienced online harassment. At the same time, women with limited digital access may face risks due to lack of digital literacy or control over technology.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is amplifying these risks. The spread of deepfake pornography, gendered disinformation, and non-consensual explicit content is growing. According to Sensity AI, up to 95% of online deepfakes are non-consensual pornographic images, with women depicted in the vast majority of cases. The consequences are severe: online violence can lead to psychological harm, silence women’s voices, and even escalate to offline abuse.

Building Safe Digital Spaces

Recognising these challenges, UNDP is committed to ensuring that digital transformation is safe, inclusive, and empowering for all, especially women and girls (in all their diversity). Following the Digital Readiness Assessment, we worked with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Ministry of ICT to develop a Digital Roadmap for Eswatini. This blueprint prioritises building digital systems that are secure, private, and designed to prevent technology-facilitated GBV.

Key measures include:

1. Strengthening cybersecurity enforcement

2. Enacting robust data protection laws

3. Integrating safe and accessible reporting channels into public platforms

We are also guided by global frameworks such as the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework, which sets standards for user safety, rights-based design, and accountability for technology platforms. These safeguards are essential to ensure that digital public infrastructure does not replicate offline inequalities or enable new forms of violence.

Expanding Digital Safety to Young Key Populations

In addition to addressing gender-based violence online, UNDP Eswatini is prioritising the inclusion and protection of Young Key Populations (YKPs) in digital spaces. YKPs – such as young people living with HIV, LGBTQI youth, and other vulnerable groups – often face compounded risks of stigma, discrimination, and violence both offline and online. Through our partnerships with civil society and youth-led organisations, we are integrating YKP-specific safeguards into digital platforms and advocacy initiatives. This includes promoting digital literacy, ensuring access to secure reporting mechanisms, and embedding privacy protections that respect the unique needs of these communities. By centering YKPs in our digital transformation agenda, we aim to create an inclusive ecosystem where every young person can engage safely, access essential services, and exercise their rights without fear of violence or exclusion.

Looking Ahead

As we mark the 16 Days of Activism, UNDP Eswatini reaffirms its commitment to accelerating the implementation of these safeguards. We will continue to work with government, civil society, and technology partners to strengthen regulatory frameworks, expand equitable digital infrastructure, and embed protections that ensure every citizen can participate safely in the digital world.

Digital transformation must go hand in hand with digital safety. Only by integrating gender-responsive measures and proactive mechanisms to prevent digital violence can Eswatini’s digital future be truly inclusive, empowering, and free from violence.

Let us unite to ensure that the promise of digital progress is realised for everyone –without fear, without violence, and with dignity for all. Men and boys can play a crucial role in ending gender-based violence by actively challenging harmful norms, calling out abusive behaviour, and promoting respect both online and offline. In digital spaces, they can use their voices to discourage harassment, report harmful content, and create safer, more supportive online communities for women and girls.