Leading the charge to end digital violence against women and girls

As the world reflects on the conclusion of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the spotlight falls on the 2025 theme: ‘UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls’.

This theme holds particular weight as Africa undergoes a profound digital revolution. Digital platforms are now at the heart of education, commerce, governance, and civic participation across the continent. 

Ensuring these spaces are safe and inclusive is key not only for equality but also for the sustainability of Africa's ongoing transformation.

The digital boom has powered the rise of mobile money, social commerce, and affordable technological tools, enabling thousands of small businesses to join regional and global supply chains.

Women and youth-led SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs are increasingly leveraging online platforms to connect with customers, manage transactions, and expand their operations.

Digital commerce is bringing new opportunities for business growth. However, as digital adoption accelerates, the dangers of online harassment, cyberstalking, non-consensual image sharing, algorithmic bias, and technology-driven coercion have grown, disproportionately threatening the safety and participation of women and girls.

Digital violence has outgrown its roots as a social issue; it now poses a serious economic and developmental risk.

Misuse of AI and digital platforms have enabled the creation and spread of harmful content, impersonation of entrepreneurs, and manipulation of images, all of which erode trust in the digital systems that underpin growth.

The figures are sobering globally, with between 15 and 58 percent of women and girls have been targeted by online violence. In Kenya alone, according last year's UNFPA report, Rapid Study on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in tertiary institutions, 40 percent of female students report exposure to such violence, with nearly 90 percent witnessing it.

This not only widens the digital divide but also threatens the progress already made towards digital inclusion. 

For women-led SMEs, such attacks can cause severe reputational damage.

For women-led SMEs, whose brands often hinge on personal identity, digital attacks such as deepfakes or impersonation scams can cause severe reputational damage.

Combined with existing hurdles like, limited access to capital, markets, and persistent socio-cultural barriers, online insecurity becomes a significant obstacle to sustainable growth, competitiveness and innovation. Young entrepreneurs, especially women, often face harassment after gaining visibility online.

This undermines their confidence in e-commerce and digital payments, paradoxically at a time when a robust online presence is crucial for economic success.

In this context, organisations are called upon to integrate digital safety into the core of institutional strengthening, systems design, and development finance. As the 16 Days of Activism campaign closed, the message was clear: ending digital violence is vital to unlocking Africa’s digital economy and ensuring women and girls can flourish in the future workplace.

The writer is Gender and Equity Inclusion Manager, KPMG International Development Advisory Services