The 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, beginning on 25 November and ending on 10 December, shines a bright light on a growing threat facing women and girls worldwide: digital violence. This year’s theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls” aligns strongly with CYDI’s vision of a world where every young person is safe and empowered and our mission to protect young people from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Key Statistics
| Type of Digital Violence | Percentage Affected | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Women who have personally experienced online violence | 38% | PR Newswire |
| Women who have witnessed online violence | 85% | PR Newswire |
| Technology-facilitated abuse | 16%–58% | UN Women |
| Deepfake sexual content targeting women | 99% | UN Geneva |
| Deepfake content that is pornographic | 95% | UN Geneva |
CYDI’s Commitment to Protecting Young People
Young people aged 10–24, CYDI’s primary clients, are among the most exposed to online grooming, harassment, exploitation, and misinformation. Over the past twenty years, CYDI has delivered programmes on sexual and reproductive health, SGBV prevention, family life and health education, HIV and AIDS prevention, peacebuilding, and youth development. This positions CYDI to respond effectively to digital abuse.
Call to Action for a Safe Digital Future
As the world marks thirty years of the Beijing Declaration, CYDI calls on young people, communities, government agencies, and technology companies to unite in creating a safe, empowering, and inclusive digital environment.
- Governments: strengthen online safety laws and integrate digital literacy in schools (UNCTAD).
- Tech companies: improve moderation, transparency, and protection for minors.
- Parents/guardians: speak openly with adolescents about digital risks and support reporting of harmful experiences.
- Everyone: participate by sharing resources, wearing orange, supporting survivors, and using hashtags #UNiTE, #EndDigitalViolence, #NoExcuse, #YoungPeoplesSafetyMatters.