Kathmandu, Nov. 25
The United
Nations in Nepal launched the ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based
Violence’ together with Minister for Communication and Information Technology
Jagdish Kharel.
In a statement,
it said that it reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to making digital spaces safer
for women and girls. 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.
“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,” noted the UN. 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.
Speaking at the event, Minister Kharel reiterated the
government's commitment to preventing digital violence against women and girls
amidst evolving technological landscapes.
Emphasising the need for collective efforts to end
digital violence targeting women and girls, he noted that the digital world has
become an integral part of daily life, offering convenience in learning and
work, but also highlighting that for many women and girls, it remains a risky
and unsafe space.
Minister Kharel defined digital violence as a form of
real violence, including online harassment, cyberstalking, the unauthorised use
of images, hate speech, and trolling, all of which create fear and threats.
“These actions silence women, push them out of digital spaces, and undermine
their fundamental right to freedom of expression and access to information,”
said the Minister.
He further stressed that if half of the population
feels unsafe online, digital progress cannot be considered complete or fair.
Minister Kharel said that the Ministry of
Communication’s mission goes beyond infrastructure development and service
expansion - it aims to build a secure, inclusive, and empowering digital
ecosystem for all Nepali citizens.
He also underlined that the fight against digital
violence cannot be won by the government alone, and pledged to strengthen legal
and policy frameworks, including reviewing cyber laws to ensure justice for
victims and accountability for offenders.
Likewise, he proposed collaboration with the education
sector to include digital literacy in curricula, encouraging the private sector
and innovators to develop secure platforms, and increasing cooperation with the
UN, civil society, and all levels of government.
“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,” read the statement from the UN in Nepal.
Resident
Coordinator of the UN in Nepal 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.
There is an
urgent need of digital literacy and online safety education for
adolescents—especially boys—to build resilience, transform attitudes, and
promote respectful online behaviour,” she said.
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 the impact of harmful
content and building platforms that are safe for women and girls.
The event
featured a youth-designed mural symbolising collective commitment to reclaiming
safe digital spaces.
The UNiTE 2025
campaign runs until 10 December. 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.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 November 2025.
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