Safer Digital Spaces Start with Collective Action

In Dar es Salaam, Neema hesitates before posting a comment online, aware of how quickly digital conversations can turn into harassment. While the digital world offers women and girls opportunities for voice and connection, it is also exposing them to new forms of violence.

Recognizing the need for coordinated action, Tanzania launched Thematic Working Groups under the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children II (NPA-VAWC II) to strengthen national responses, including emerging forms of violence in media and digital spaces.

Since 2021, UNESCO has supported national partner, in collaboration with the Directorate of Information Services and relevant ministries to address gender-based violence in media and digital environments. This collaboration facilitated the inclusion of a dedicated priority pillar on gender-based violence in media and digital spaces in the current NPA-VAWC, an area previously unaddressed in the earlier plan.

To advance implementation, UNESCO convened a technical workshop bringing together government institutions, media organizations, digital platforms, civil society and development partners.

The process delivered several key results:

• The Integrated Multi-Stakeholder Action Framework for Preventing and Responding to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Media and Digital Spaces developed, guiding coordinated prevention, response, research and capacity-building efforts

• Terms of Reference for the Thematic Working Group to strengthen governance and coordination established and

• A joint action plan and resource mobilization strategy aligned with NPA-VAWC II priorities.

The launch event, officiated by Hon. Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, Minister of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, brought together government, development partners, civil society, media and technology stakeholders to operationalize the initiative.