Activist Adut Andrew|Courtesy

The South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) is calling on the government and other key stakeholders to take urgent and coordinated action to address increasing digital violence against women and girls as the world marks the start of the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on Tuesday.

In a statement Tuesday, the organisation said digital spaces—once viewed as platforms for learning, empowerment, and free expression—are now being misused to harass, intimidate, and silence women and girls.

Adut Andrew, the Administrative Assistant for SSHRDN, told reporters that harmful online behaviour has escalated, limiting women’s participation in public life.

“Digital spaces, which should serve as platforms for expression, learning and empowerment, are increasingly being used to target women and girls through online harassment, cyberbullying, misinformation, online stalking, hate speech, and image-based abuse,” she said.

“These forms of violence not only silence women’s voices but also limit their participation in public life, citizenship, leadership, and digital opportunities.”

Adut urged the government, technology companies, civil society organisations, and community leaders to work together to strengthen legal protections, improve digital safety, and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.

“We urge the Government of South Sudan, technology companies, civil society organisations and community leaders to strengthen legal protection against digital forms of gender-based violence and ensure effective enforcement,” she said.

“Build awareness and digital literacy… hold perpetrators accountable… and invest in secure digital infrastructure that protects privacy, data, and online activities.”

He also called for greater support for women human rights defenders, journalists, and advocates who frequently face online threats and intimidation.

The 16 Days of Activism campaign is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness and driving action to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence in all its forms.