Women Often Assaulted Online in Asia But Find Limited Recourse: UN Women Study

Civil society activists say that women are frequently faced with online abuse in Asian countries, but for many victims, fear and suspicion make reporting these attacks to the authorities "often the last resort," a recent UN Women study found, reports UNB.

Countries should respond by improving prosecutions and penalties against offenders and by - efforts to correct gender discrimination and the misogynous norms that drive violence in society, the report says.

The report, Online Violence against Women in Asia, centered on the situation in India, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. It was financed by the Government of the Republic of Korea. 

It was to be released on Tuesday at the Online Violence against Women in Asia Cyber Café event, organised as part of the United Nations Secretary-General’s annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (November 25 to December 10).

The report was done before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is much more important now that the lockdowns have pushed so much contact, business and online services, potentially raising the risk of online attacks against women.

The report notes that violence involves visual voyeurism, the transformation of women's bodies into composite photographs, harassment of women over clothing and actions considered inappropriate," the distribution of video recordings of rape, and live-streaming of child sexual abuse.

It says that people with minimal digital skills—mostly women and girls—are more at risk. School children who spend more time online are also at risk of sexual harassment, it says.

Civil society activists interviewed by researchers said victims tended to trust associates, co-workers and civil society groups and "rarely or never" report attacks to the authorities.

“Fear of reprisals from perpetrators, lack of confidence in police, the high cost of civil legal action and a lack of confidence in the judicial process are significant barriers to complaining to authorities,” the report says.

The report says that according to activists, online violence against women “is a low priority for the police and prosecutors, and there is an unhealthy level of victim blaming.”

“It is critical to restore confidence in the legal process so that women and girls may access justice,” it says.

The report notes that specific legal protections are required to react to online violence against women, including specialized courts and specially qualified investigators and prosecutors.

It notes that civil society organisations are in support of extending legal penalties to include ordering offenders to delete and remove web material from searches, as well as fines and restitution where possible.

Governments also need to do more to educate people about proper Internet etiquette, toxic online behaviour, and the prohibition of online violence against women, the report says.

“Online presence, an essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, is crucial for obtaining and maintaining a job, accessing information, exercising democratic rights, having a voice, getting an education and conducting commercial transactions,” said Sarah Knibbs, UN Women Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

“However, with online violence against women and girls, the transformative potential of the Internet and digital technology as well as freedom of expression is under threat.”

“For the survivor, reporting the attack requires courage and confidence that the system will protect and support to see her through the process. It is imperative that online violence receive the same legal treatment as other forms of violence. If offline sexual harassment and stalking are crimes, online harassment and cyberstalking should similarly be criminalised.”