AWLN Ghana Rallies Ghanaians to Fight against Rising Digital and Gender-Based Violence
As the world commemorates the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) – Ghana Chapter has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting violence against women and girls, particularly in the increasingly dangerous digital sphere.
The international campaign, observed from November 25 to December 10, is being marked this year under the theme: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”
In a statement signed by the President of the AWLN Ghana Chapter, Dr. Charity Binkah, the network condemned the growing cases of domestic abuse, harmful cultural practices, femicide, and especially digital violence, which continues to endanger the lives and freedoms of women and girls across the country.
Dr. Binkah warned that online abuse is rapidly becoming one of the most pervasive forms of gender-based violence.
“Digital violence is not abstract. It is real, harmful, and deeply destructive,” she stressed.
“Women and girls in Ghana are being targeted with cyberstalking, sexual extortion, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, deepfake manipulation, and coordinated digital attacks that silence their voices and threaten their safety.”
She added that the emotional, psychological, social, and physical consequences of such abuse are severe, often driving girls away from online platforms and discouraging women from participating in public life.
A National Crisis Demanding Leadership
According to AWLN, the scale of violence against women is no longer a private matter, but a national crisis that requires bold and coordinated action. The network emphasized that digital violence threatens human rights, equality, democratic participation, and national security.
“Every woman and girl in Ghana deserves to participate in digital spaces without fear. They deserve to express themselves, learn, innovate, and lead without intimidation or attack,” Dr. Binkah noted.
She said this year’s campaign theme underscores the need for unity, insisting that no single actor can address this challenge alone.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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