KATHMANDU, Nov 29: In the past, violence against women was often carried out directly and physically. But over time, its nature has changed. Today, violence against women is increasingly committed through digital technologies as well as through physical means, according to data from Nepal Police.
Organizations working for women’s rights and gender justice have called for an end to the rise in digital violence, both in Nepal and globally. The theme of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which began on Tuesday, is “End Digital Violence Against Women.”
According to Nepal Police data, cybercrime is rising in Nepal, and women are among the most affected. A recent report from the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police shows that in fiscal year (FY) 2023/24 alone, 19,730 cybercrime complaints were filed. Of these, 8,745 cases were related to violence against women. In addition, 382 complaints involved girls and 767 involved individuals from gender and sexual minority groups.
A recent United Nations report states that 60 percent of women worldwide have experienced digital or online violence. According to UN Women, women engaged in public roles—such as female politicians, journalists, and marginalized women—are disproportionately affected.
Two-day Huawei Digital Nepal Conclave 2022
Deepak Raj Awasthi, Information Officer and Spokesperson of the Cyber Bureau, says digital violence reflects long-standing patterns of violence against women in Nepali society. Perpetrators often include close male friends, estranged partners, or former husbands.
Such individuals engage in criminal activities like posting defamatory photos, editing pictures to portray women as immoral, creating fake IDs to share these images, or posting videos to harm their reputation. “Once relationships deteriorate, close friends, boyfriends, or ex-husbands are found to commit such acts,” Awasthi said.
Online predators also target young girls—initiating conversations, committing sexual offenses, and threatening them into sexual relations. Due to fear of public shame, many women endure such abuse silently, and some do not even know how to file complaints. “Not all incidents of violence reach us as formal complaints. The actual level of violence in society is much higher,” he said.
Awasthi noted that digital violence has caused severe psychological distress among girls, leading some to attempt or even commit suicide.
UN Women has expressed concern that digital violence against women is increasing globally with the advancement of information and communication technologies. According to UN Women, 73 percent of women affected by this form of violence are female journalists. Such violence inflicts long-term psychological trauma and affects women socially, familially, and economically. Digital violence is found to be comparatively higher in Asia-Pacific countries.
Patricia Fernandez-Pacheco, UN Women’s Representative in Nepal, said that online and digital violence violates women’s basic human rights. It denies them the right to speak freely, express themselves, and engage safely in online professional spaces.
Because digital violence makes women feel unsafe, this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign focuses on countering online and digital violence. According to Pacheco, although technological progress has created professional opportunities, ending digital violence is a prerequisite for women to benefit from them. “Only after ending violence will technology become a tool of economic and social empowerment for women,” she said.
UN Women has called on all countries to immediately enact policies and laws to end digital violence against women.
