Theme: Unpacking Online Gender-Based Violence Among Youth in Kenya.

Background

The "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence" is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing action to end violence against women and girls. This annual initiative, spanning from November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10th, Human Rights Day, brings together individuals, organizations, and governments to advocate for a world free from gender-based violence. The campaign serves as a powerful platform to challenge societal norms, promote gender equality, and call for meaningful policy changes to address the pervasive issue of violence against women. The campaign takes a critical stance against the growing threat of online gender-based violence (OGBV), recognizing the digital realm as an increasingly common space for perpetuating violence against women and girls. This specialised focus addresses the challenges posed by technology, social media, and the internet in fostering a safer and more inclusive online environment.

Online gender-based violence encompasses a range of harmful behaviours targeting individuals based on their gender, often facilitated through digital platforms. This includes but is not limited to cyberbullying, harassment, doxing, revenge porn, and online threats. The anonymity provided by the online space can exacerbate the impact of these forms of violence, leaving victims vulnerable and facing long-lasting consequences. OGBV is not confined to specific geographical regions or demographics; it is a global issue that demands coordinated efforts to address its root causes and consequences.

In partnership with Young Women Leaders Connect(YWLC), The Youth Cafe organized a Podcast centred around the theme 'Exploring Online Gender-Based Violence Among Youth in Kenya.' The discussions provided an invaluable platform for raising awareness, fostering dialogue, and encouraging meaningful interactions surrounding the critical issue of online gender-based violence affecting the youth in Kenya.

Forms of online GBV

Among the most commonly mentioned forms of online GBV were defamation, where false and damaging information is disseminated to harm an individual's reputation, and cyber harassment, encompassing persistent online behaviours intended to intimidate or cause distress. Hacking and doxing were highlighted as malicious practices involving unauthorized access to personal information and subsequent public exposure. Violent threats, cyberbullying, and hate speech were recognized as significant concerns, reflecting the use of digital platforms to harm, discriminate, or humiliate individuals. The term "Cyber Assault" was introduced, covering a spectrum of online attacks threatening individuals' online safety. Other identified forms included character defamation, impostors, online incitements, body shaming, intimate image abuse, and the unauthorized revelation of personal information.