We express deep concern over a significant increase in cyberviolence and bullying against the woman and girls in the country.
Women, female students of school, college and university, professionals and even housewives become the victims of online violence and cyberbullying every day. Some people mostly youths continue inflicting harm on them posting offensive, obscene, hurtful words and comments on their Facebook page other social media pages. Addressing at a views exchange meeting titled ‘Cyber Violence against Women and Girls: Reality and Actions’ in capital Dhaka, civil society members, academics, rights activists and journalists expressed their grave concern saying cases of cyberviolence and online bullying against women and girls showed an upward trend despite measures taken by the authorities concerned, according to media report. Violence against women and girls is the main obstacle in the path of women empowerment and their progress as well.
BTRC’s initiative has been able to remove 35,000 objectionable contents from social media Facebook after discussing with authorities. So, the digital literacy should be increased to prevent online violence against women and girls.
This sort of bullying can be more serious than conventional bullying. With a significant increase in online violence, cyberbullying, and digital harassment mostly targeted towards women, authorities concerned earlier issued different leaflets on how to report harassment on social media.
This sort of bullying
can be more
serious than
conventional bullying
The women and girls are being bullied, sexually harassed and stalked on social media. The stalkers mostly young men do not think how the bad words can really hurt a young woman.
Such nasty comments, texts, and posts can lead any female even to commit suicide alongside demoralised. We think cyberbullying is a big crime and needs to be stopped immediately.
'Police Cyber Support for Women' unit has been launched earlier for helping women to create safe cyberspace for them and provide technical and legal support to them and create awareness among the people against cybercrimes. The victims are being provided services as per law and if they need to file cases, they will be advised. We think the law enforcement agencies will have to ensure a friendly environment for women victims of cybercrime at police stations or other complaint centres.
The women must remain cautious and avoid responding directly to the persons bullying them. Besides, they also need to understand that passwords of social media accounts are personal and should not be shared with anyone, not even with their partners.
