TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED gender-based violence (TFGBV) may be a relatively new term floating around, but the consequences of TFGBV are far-reaching in this digital age.
Online spaces meant to be inclusive and foster a sense of belonging have become increasingly toxic, with veiled threats or lewd comments often directed at women and girls.
It is also an area that has concerned Minister for Women Lynda Tabuya, and she shared plans with this newspaper about plans to “give teeth” to Fiji’s online watchdogs, which currently, are weak.
Ms Tabuya said partners like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had come on board to work together to combat TFGBV because it was related to a woman’s mental health and physical health.
“The moment she gets attacked online and she’s facing cyber-bullying, it affects her health,” Ms Tabuya said.
“A healthy woman is a productive woman. So, if she’s unhealthy in that regard it’s affecting her health and her state, she won’t be productive everywhere.”
Ms Tabuya said in line with their plans, and to commemorate 16 Days of Activism, she would convene a young women’s forum next month to bring young women together to talk about and strategise on how to deal with TFGBV.
She said UNFPA had done a gender analysis of the Online Safety Act to gauge whether it was strong enough to protect women.
“What are some of the things in it, that are too weak? How do we give it more teeth? How do we help women? Because women are attacked 10 times more than men on the internet and online.
“I know because I’ve experienced it firsthand. I had to get through that. But so many women are facing this, and how do we deal with that?”
Ms Tabuya said there was a need to ensure that laws were in place to protect women and then to build capacity between the Fiji Police Force, courts, and stakeholders.
“We take this on as a national issue. Because it is so timely, and we’re in the 21st century.
“The misinformation, the disinformation, the attacks on women, including women journalists and women politicians; and we are leaders in our spaces, but we get attacked every single day, 10 times more than men.
“We’ve got to deal with this, and it’s got to start with the legislation. It’s got to start with holding the internet service and telecommunication companies accountable that they need to be able to look at the public interest of protecting our women rather than always claiming the privacy rights of individuals.
“At some point, you’ve got to draw the line.
We have to protect our women and girls. We have to protect our boys as well.”
