ICTs crucial in gender based violence fight

Lazarus Sauti

Gender based violence (physical, emotional or psychological violence carried out against a person because of that person’s gender) is an insult to human dignity and to the basic human rights of women.

This is according to a Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAFAIDS) Policy Brief.

The same policy brief document states that gender based violence is generally male on female and it maybe be vice versa.

“While gender based violence is generally male on female, it may also be female on male,” noted SAFAIDS, adding, “The adverse consequences of gender based violence extend to family, community and even to national, social and economic development.”

Sadly, one Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) study in Africa highlighted that at least 60 percent of women have experienced physical and sexual violence from their most recent spouse or live-in partner.

This shows that spousal violence is the leading form of gender based violence in most African countries and is grounded in cultural practices which have dimensions of gender inequality.

To shed more light, the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that women are disproportionately the victims of violence worldwide (World Report on Violence and Health, World Health Organisation).

Since women suffer most, governments, civic organisation, nongovernmental organisations and women groups or organisations should empower African women with information and communication (ICT) tools to fight gender based violence.

Blogger Emma Saloranta of Girls’ Globe, an organisation that works to raise awareness and educate others about global issues concerning the rights, health and empowerment of women and girls, said information and communication technologies and the Internet play a big role in the battle against sexual abuse and violence against women.

“While information and communication technologies and Internet can pose a risk to women and girls, they can also offer new, innovative ways to battle violence against women and to provide women and girls with more protection, more security and more independence.”

Saloranta added: “New technologies are paving the way for creative approaches to battle violence against women and sexual abuse, and as mobile phones are becoming more and more common and available in even the most remote locations, these solutions can offer support, information, help and protection to women and girls across countries, cultures and socio-economic classes.”

The UN Women shares the same sentiments and views information communication technologies as powerful means to advance women’s rights, empowerment and gender.

Speaking at the United Nations Broadband Commission Working Group on Gender recently, UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, said her organisation is committed to fight use ICTs to end gender based violence.

She added, “To end violence against women, for instance, we are providing mobile phone apps to report safety risks and to get access to services for survivors of gender-based violence.”

Buhlebenkosi Moyo, information and communications officer for Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre Network, an organisation that promotes women’s rights, said ICTs play an important role in helping eliminate gender based violence.

“ICTs play a prominent role in helping eliminate gender based violence because information to help eliminate gender based violence can be communicated effectively. They can be used for current awareness as they make it easier for one to access and disseminate information” she said.

ICTs can also be used to offer other forms of support to survivors of violence against women as well as to people and organisations working to combat it.

Moyo said women should be capacitated on how to use ICTs to fight gender based violence.

“Women should be empowered to see ICTs in positive light and be encouraged to use it effectively to speak up and fight this scourge – gender based violence,” Moyo said.

To effectively embrace information and communication technologies in the battle to end gender based violence, a multisectoral approach is required.

Accordingly, African governments should work together with key stakeholders – Ministries responsible for women affairs, women organisations, civic organisations, nongovernmental organisations, faith based organisations and ordinary women - in dealing with gender based violence.

A multi-sectoral approach in the reduction of gender-based violence is important because government alone cannot reach many people.

For everything to work in the battle to end gender based violence, women should take control of ICTs and consciously use them to combat gender based violence.

However, it is critical to note that in most African countries; technology is still male dominated, expensive and inaccessible to most people because ICT knowledge and skills are required.

Therefore, training women in ICTs is crucial for imparting practical skills, improving communication capacities, sharing experiences and information, and enabling them to network with other women.

Without doubt, ICTs are weapons in the fight against gender based violence. Accordingly, African governments should embrace them to combat gender based violence.