Creating Safe Online Spaces and Beyond: Addressing Online Violence against Women and Girls - Resident Coordinator's Speech, Gita Sabharwal

Qurrota A’yun, Director of Family, Childcare, Women, Children, Bappenas

Ahmed El-Saeed, UN Global Pulse 

Panelists, development partners and UN colleagues.

I am pleased to join you as we accelerate the agenda of creating safe online spaces for girls and women. 

All of you here today are critical to this, especially young people with your tech savvy and can-do spirit. Your engagement is crucial in raising public awareness and advancing collective actions.

Let me thank BAPPENAS for helping make this important discussion possible. 

The statistics are deeply concerning. It is estimated that globally almost one in three women have experienced violence in some form. 

This can have serious consequences for their physical and mental health, education and income while also hindering their ability to participate fully in social and economic development.

Troublingly, we are also witnessing a 300% surge in violence against girls and women in digital places. 

And these figures only represent reported cases.

I am heartened by Indonesia’s proactive stance on this issue. 

In 2022 the country enacted the Sexual Violence Crime Law to provide robust legal protection against sexual harassment online. 

The following year over 1.9 million pieces of harmful online content were removed by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics. 

Simultaneously, initiatives such as SAFENet are offering platforms for victims to report online violence along with guidelines and advice for those seeking support.

They are also leading on comprehensive digital literacy programs, providing girls and women with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate online spaces safely. 

This is crucial as almost all young people in Indonesia between 12 and 17 use the internet, yet fewer than 40% have received information on how to navigate online spaces safely.

At the same time, in a recent nationwide survey half a million young people in this age group reported experiencing sexual abuse or exploitation.  

Due to the rapidly evolving nature of online spaces, we often play catch-up in confronting online threats. 

To that end, the UN Women, is partnering with the government, private sector and civil society across Indonesia to raise awareness, build capacity, and advocate for policy reforms. 

Dialogues are also ongoing with UN Global Pulse for a joint UN offer to address this issue more comprehensively. 

Today’s discussion serves as a platform for amplifying our understanding of the intricate realities of online violence in the Indonesian context.

In addition, they can broaden the scope of interventions into related online risks such as gambling, which is destroying people’s savings and costing the economy $20 billion annually.

Often those most at risk from this economic fallout are girls and women. 

Ensuring that girls and women can all thrive safely in online environments free of harassment, bullying and violence will benefit the whole of society because they are mothers, sisters and daughters. 

This means that not only its victims but everyone else is affected to some extent by online violence.     

Today we are taking a step towards a safer online world for all.

Thank you.