Tendai Keith Guvamombe
HARARE – Today, November 25, 2025, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) stands with the global community to highlight the urgent threat of digital violence against women and girls.
Aligning with this year’s theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” ZimRights emphasized that this form of abuse—including online harassment, cyberstalking, and the use of deepfakes—is a rapidly growing human rights issue, pervasive globally and locally in Zimbabwe.
A Threat to Free Speech
Digital violence is not a distant problem; it is actively happening in Zimbabwe. ZimRights highlighted that several prominent women, including Linda Masarira, Namatai Kwekweza, and Fadzayi Mahere, have been targets of politically motivated online harassment aimed at silencing their voices and limiting their influence in the political sphere.
Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, ZimRights noted that while progress has been made, women and girls must be free from violence in both the physical and digital realms.
Demanding Accountability and Enforcement
Zimbabwe is bound by international and regional commitments, including the CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, and the SDGs, to eliminate all forms of violence against women. Nationally, while the Domestic Violence Act and the Cyber Security and Data Protection Act are steps in the right direction, ZimRights stressed that more needs to be done to ensure these laws are effectively enforced, particularly in online spaces.
As the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence continues, ZimRights issued a five-point Call to Action:
* Educate and Empower young people about digital consent.
* Call Out Abuse by not remaining silent in the face of online harassment.
* Report Harmful Content that spreads misinformation and defamation.
* Demand Accountability from technology companies for stronger moderation policies.
* Support Survivors by encouraging them to use available resources.“Digital violence is real violence, and it is a violation of fundamental human rights,” the statement concluded, urging society to create safer digital spaces for women everywhere.
#16DaysOfActivism #DigitalRights #ZimRightsWord Count: 326
