KATHMANDU, November 25 – Nepal is committed to making digital spaces safer for women and girls as digital abuse and digital violence becomes fastest-growing threats to women’s rights worldwide, said Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel.
Speaking at an event organized by the United Nations in Nepal on Tuesday to kick off the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Minister Kharel reiterated Nepal’s commitment to digital safety while emphasizing the need of having inclusive and empowering digital ecosystem for every Nepali citizen. He noted that, “digital safety is now central to civic participation, access to information and the full exercise of rights in Nepal’s evolving digital landscape.”
According to the UN, digital abuse and digital violence are among the fastest-growing threats to women’s rights worldwide. Studies show that up to half of women globally have faced some form of online harassment or abuse. For adolescent girls, it often begins as early as ages twelve to fourteen, at a time when their social and emotional development is increasingly unfolding online.
This year’s global theme, Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls, underscores the urgency of protecting young people in rapidly expanding digital spaces.
The event brought together government representatives, UN agencies, development partners, youth networks, civil society, private sector, and media under one clear message: Digital violence is real violence. Online abuse, sexual extortion, non-consensual sharing of images and the spread of misogynistic content inflict real harm on the lives, dignity and autonomy of women and girls.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations in Nepal, Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer-Hamdy underscored that digital violence is not only an attack on the rights, dignity and autonomy of women and girls but a direct threat to their participation in public life. She warned that online abuse is silencing women journalists, discouraging women leaders, and pushing girls away from digital spaces where their voices are urgently needed. Protecting women and girls online therefore demands a whole-of-society effort to challenge harmful norms, strengthen accountability, and invest in systems that safeguard digital rights. She further highlighted the urgency of digital literacy and online safety education for adolescents—especially boys—to build resilience, transform attitudes, and promote respectful online behaviour.”
The event featured a youth-designed mural symbolizing collective commitment to reclaiming safe digital spaces, along with a fireside chat with influencers and digital rights experts on the rise of online abuse and the urgent need for stronger protections.
Young participants shared their experiences of online harassment and the importance of being believed, supported and empowered to live a safe digital life. They asked better support systems for survivors, addressing impact of harmful content and building platforms that are safe for women and girls.
The UNiTE 2025 campaign runs until 10 December, under the theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls” urging everyone to stand together against digital violence and uphold digital rights as fundamental human rights. The campaign calls on parents, educators, policymakers and technology companies to take shared responsibility for creating online environments where all women and girls can learn, participate and thrive without fear.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign which takes place each year. It commences on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was originated by activists at the first Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and is coordinated each year by the Centre for Women's Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
As a unifying theme running global activities, the UNiTE campaign has utilized the colour orange to represent a brighter future, free from violence against women and girls. For the past years, the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Nepal has been marking 16 days campaign with awareness building and advocacy campaigns across Nepal. Some of the key activities undertaken were ‘oranging’ monuments and provincial buildings, engaging audience across Nepal through films, social media, and radio campaigns.
