UNDP Warns Technology Is Fueling Violence Against Women Worldwide

UNDP Warns Technology Is Fueling Violence Against Women Worldwide
…………..

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned that digital technologies are increasingly being used to facilitate violence against women and girls, heightening risks in online spaces across the world. In a recent report, UNDP said smartphones, internet access and social media platforms have become common tools for abuse, enabling new forms of harm that affect women across social, economic and cultural backgrounds.

According to the report, 85 percent of women globally have either witnessed or experienced technology-facilitated violence, while an estimated 35 to 38 percent have been directly affected. The agency noted that despite decades of international efforts to combat violence against women, abuse continues to re-emerge in more complex and severe forms.

The digital sphere, it said, has expanded the reach of violence, blurring the boundaries between public and private life and targeting groups ranging from young girls to elderly women and women with disabilities. UNDP defined technology-facilitated violence as a broad set of practices, including online verbal abuse, harassment, defamation, blackmail, stalking, identity theft, non-consensual use of personal images and online sexual harassment.

The report warned that the consequences often extend beyond the digital realm, leading to serious psychological, social and economic harm. Regionally, the Middle East recorded the highest reported prevalence, at 98 percent, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean, and Africa. North America and Europe showed comparatively lower rates, though UNDP stressed the problem remains significant there.

UNDP called for integrating digital violence into domestic violence laws, strengthening reporting mechanisms such as anti-blackmail platforms, and expanding national and international cooperation to protect women and girls in an increasingly digital world.