Ammon News - Across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), digital violence is on the rise. According to research supported by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), 67% of respondents in the region have experienced digital violence, with 40% reporting severe impacts on mental health.

Women and girls globally and in the region are much more likely than men to report negative impacts from these experiences. A staggering one in four women in the MENA region report that the harms they have faced online have significantly impacted their will to live. Through nearly 10 years of research investments, IDRC has built coordinated, cross-sectoral responses that influence policy, practice and support for survivors.

Online and digital violence against women is the theme of this year’s global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign to raise awareness about violence against women and girls. Digital violence encompasses a wide range of online harms with real-life impact, including cyberstalking, sexual harassment and bullying, doxxing (sharing private personal information like residential addresses), hacking, online grooming, impersonation, extortion and more.

As part of the 16 Days campaign, IDRC is launching a video highlighting the impact of digital violence, featuring a female journalist from the MENA region who is able to face her fears by seeking help. The video will be launched on November 25 on IDRC’s social media platforms, linked below.

IDRC will also support the ARIJ Forum and will participate in the panel “Bringing lived realities to life: Documenting stories through investigations and creative writing” on December 6. In addition, IDRC is proud to support the launch of two groundbreaking new publications: first, a collection of in-depth firsthand accounts of digital violence in conflict zones, written by female journalists from across the region; second, the first Arabic-language graphic novel addressing digital violence against women and girls in the MENA region.

Through these and other investments in health, education, economic inclusion, and more, IDRC reaffirms its commitment to tackling gender inequality and gender-based violence in all its forms.