The Epidemic Of Digital Violence Against Syrian Women And Girls
A recent report by three organizations has shed light on the growing issue of digital violence against women and girls in Northwest Syria. The photo of a female doctor without her hijab was posted online, sparking a horrific honor killing in public.
This is just one example of the devastating impact of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) on Syrian women and girls. TFGBV is a pervasive issue that affects millions of women worldwide, often going unreported due to social stigma and fear of retribution.
The report highlights the frequency and severity of digital violence in Northwest Syria, which is mainly motivated by financial and sexual exploitation, revenge, coercion, defamation, or reputational harm. The perpetrators can be anyone – phone repairers, friends, family members, other women, or even humanitarian and medical staff.
According to Diana Garde, who led the Arab States Regional Office Hub for the UNFPA Syria response before moving to focus on Sudan, TFGBV is not limited to one region or country. It exists anywhere where vulnerability is intensified by hunger, conflict, or poverty, combined with man-made limits to women's agency.
"This topic is not discussed enough," says Garde. "Many people are not drawing a connection between physical violence and online harassment." The research found that digital violence in Northwest Syria mainly occurs on Meta's platforms, chiefly Facebook, as well as WhatsApp Gold, an unauthorized and less secure version of WhatsApp.
Women in these regions often have limited access to technology literacy education, making them more vulnerable to exploitation. Some organizations are trying to address this issue by providing training programs for women to repair their devices themselves and creating safe spaces where they can receive support without being identified or stigmatized.
"It's like choosing your favorite child," says Garde, describing the agonizing decision made by UNFPA to scale back its work with local organizations due to dramatic cuts in international development and humanitarian funding.
The report highlights the importance of addressing TFGBV as a structural issue that affects not only individual women but also their families, communities, and society as a whole. "This is a crisis that requires immediate attention and action," says Hiba Ezzideen, an activist from Idlib in Northwest Syria.
"Time is really important because a lady may lose her life if the post is too much communicated and shared," warns Ezzideen. Meta has taken steps to address the issue, but more needs to be done to curb the rampant violence against women online.