India’s digital transformation has created opportunities for women’s empowerment while increasing the risk of tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).
- To address this, the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the ‘Ab Koi Bahana Nahi’ campaign.
India’s Digital Progress
- India’s Digital Revolution: India’s Digital Revolution refers to the widespread use of technology and the digitization of processes across various sectors like medicine, communication, and governance.
- India has made significant strides in its digital transformation. Key indicators of this progress include:
- 1.18 billion mobile connections
- 700 million internet users
- 600 million smartphones
- Empowerment and Connectivity: Initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which has expanded financial inclusion by nearly four-fold since 2015, have seen women hold 55.6 percent of all bank accounts.
- JAM Trinity: The integration of Jan Dhan Account, Aadhaar, and mobile services has made cashless transactions and direct benefits transfer more accessible, especially for women in rural areas.
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Ab Koi Bahana Nahi” Campaign
- On November 25, 2024, the Ministry for Women and Child Development launched the “Ab Koi Bahana Nahi” campaign, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
- Aligned with the global “16 Days of Activism” from November 25 to December 10, the campaign emphasizes the urgent need to address violence against women and girls.
- The Campaign was inspired by the UN’s No Excuse initiative and highlighted the rising instances of gender-based violence and calls for immediate, sustained action.
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Dark Side of Digital Connectivity
- While digital connectivity has brought empowerment, it has also exposed women to new risks, particularly in the form of tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Some forms of TFGBV include:
- Cyberstalking: Persistently following and harassing someone online, often by misusing personal data.
- Online trolling: Involves targeting politicians or journalists or others by making provocative or offensive demands.
- Non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
- Impersonation and fraud through fake profiles: Involves creating false identities to deceive or exploit others.
- Voyeurism and online grooming: They are the acts of secretly watching individuals or manipulating them online, often for harmful purposes.
- These often force women and girls to retreat from digital spaces.
- Urban Areas and Rural Areas: Rural India has a higher percentage of internet users than urban areas (20% more users as per 2021 Nielsen report).
- Many women and girls struggle with digital literacy and are often unaware of their rights or the resources available to report abuse.
Legal and Institutional Responses to TFGBV
- Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2024 provide legal protection against digital violence.
- The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal allows for anonymous reporting of cybercrimes, making it easier for victims to seek help.
- The Digital Shakti program, launched by the National Commission for Women, provides safety tools specifically for women to navigate online spaces securely.
- Government-led Information Security Education and Awareness Programme spreads digital safety awareness.
- 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women: India, along with other UN member states, signed a declaration calling for the promotion of “secure, stable, accessible, and affordable ICT environments” for all women and girls.
Way Forward
- Strengthening Legal Frameworks: Enforcing stricter laws against online violence is essential. This includes ensuring swift justice for survivors which can act as a deterrence.
- Expanding Digital Literacy: Expanding digital literacy programs for women and girls is critical. These initiatives should include:
- Integrating safe online practices into school curriculums
- Offering community workshops for both women and men, across different age groups, to improve digital safety awareness
- Engaging Men and Boys as Allies: To address the root causes of gender-based violence, it is vital to engage men and boys in fostering respectful and inclusive digital spaces.
- Collaborating with the Tech Industry: While many platforms have introduced safety features, these need to be further enhanced. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to detect and remove abusive content proactively.
- Additionally, platforms should introduce user-friendly reporting mechanisms that empower users to report abuse effectively and efficiently.
- Robust Survivor Support Systems: It is equally important to develop survivor support systems to offer accessible counseling, legal aid, and rehabilitation services for victims of TFGBV.
- TechSakhi: Expanding the capacity of existing initiatives like TechSakhi, which provides accurate information and empathetic support, will ensure that survivors receive timely and effective assistance.
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Conclusion
As India marks the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence each year, the message of ‘Ab Koi Bahana Nahi’ (No More Excuses) resonates loudly. Ensuring the safety of women and girls online is not only a moral responsibility but also a crucial pillar of India’s progress in the digital era.
December 16, 2024
