• RIGHT TO ONLINE SAFETY

What is Online Harassment?

Online harassment refers to the use of digital technology, such as the internet, smartphones, or social media, to harass, intimidate, or threaten someone. This includes online bullying, cyberstalking, revenge porn, and hate speech. Unfortunately, girls and women are more likely to experience cyber harassment than other groups because of their gender, race, or sexual orientation. And, in many cases, cyber harassment is used as a tool of gender-based violence. This means that someone might use it to hurt or control them because of their gender. Online harassment can take many forms, including but not limited to:

  • Sending threatening or abusive messages to someone through social media, email, or messaging apps.

  • Sharing or distributing sexually explicit images of someone without their consent.

  • Creating fake profiles or accounts to impersonate someone.

  • Harassing someone through online gaming or chat rooms.

  • Engaging in online stalking or cyberbullying.

To address online harassment and protect girls' human rights, it is crucial to promote digital literacy, implement strong legal frameworks, and develop support systems for victims. Additionally, raising awareness about the issue and promoting a culture of respect and gender equality online can contribute to reducing online harassment against girls.

How Does Climate Change affect Girls’ Human Rights?

  • RIGHT TO EDUCATION

    Persistent online harassment negatively impacts a girl's ability to concentrate on and engage in education, potentially leading to absenteeism or dropping out of school.

  • RIGHT TO HEALTH

    Online harassment can result in severe psychological consequences, such as anxiety, depression, isolation, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts, endangering girls' mental and physical well-being.

  • RIGHT TO PRIVACY

    Cyberstalking, doxxing, and unauthorized sharing of personal information violate a girl's right to privacy, causing psychological distress and harm.

  • RIGHT TO WORK

    Online harassment can negatively impact a girl's career and economic opportunities, leading to a loss of professional reputation or job opportunities and hindering her ability to achieve economic independence.

  • RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

    Online harassment restricts girls' ability to express themselves and share opinions online, leading to self-censorship and impeding their freedom of expression.

  • RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM VIOLENCE

    Online harassment involves gender-based violence, including sexual harassment, hate speech, threats of physical violence, infringing on girls' rights to live free from harm & be treated with dignity & respect.

  • RIGHT TO EQUALITY & NON-DISCRIMINATION

    Online harassment targeting girls perpetuates gender stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes, reinforcing gender inequality and undermining girls' rights to equality and non-discrimination.

  • RIGHT TO PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC LIFE

    Online harassment can deter individuals, especially women and marginalized groups, from participating in public discourse and civic engagement.

The International Legal Framework

  • Human rights instruments

    International law lacks specific provisions for online harassment but can be addressed through various human rights instruments. Many countries have enacted national laws criminalizing cyberstalking, online threats, and revenge porn. However, implementation and effectiveness in combating online harassment vary significantly between countries.

  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

    Protects freedom of expression (Article 19), privacy (Article 12), and non-discrimination (Article 2), relevant to online harassment cases.

  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

    Contains provisions on freedom of expression (Article 19), privacy (Article 17), and prohibits discrimination (Article 2), applicable to online harassment cases.

  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

    Addresses discrimination against women and girls, including gender-based online harassment. Article 2 obliges states to eliminate discrimination in all forms, including actions to address online harassment.

  • Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

    Relevant to children's rights, includes freedom of expression (Article 13), privacy (Article 16), and protection from all forms of violence (Article 19), applicable to online harassment involving girls.

  • Environmental law principles

    These principles seek to ensure that those responsible for causing environmental harm are held accountable and that the interests of future generations are considered in environmental decision-making. Ensuring that climate policies and measures are equitable, inclusive, and respect human rights requires ongoing efforts at the national, regional, and international levels.

How Can Girls Advocate for the End Online Harassment?

  • Share information about online harassment, mental health impacts, and safe online spaces using social media, blogs, or other channels.

  • Connect with individuals and organizations concerned about online harassment and create a support network to advocate for change.

  • Learn and teach digital safety, privacy settings, reporting harassment, digital literacy, and responsible online behaviour.

  • Advocate for stronger laws and regulations to protect individuals from online harassment by contacting local representatives and participating in campaigns.

  • Report witnessed online harassment to the platform and encourage others to do the same.

  • Advocate for stronger laws and regulations to protect individuals from online harassment by contacting local representatives and participating in campaigns.

  • Organize workshops, webinars, and campaigns addressing online harassment, digital safety, and responsible online behaviour.

  • Promote standing up against online harassment, supporting targets, and challenging harassers when safe. Foster a culture of solidarity and empathy online.

  • Work with educational institutions and youth organizations to integrate digital safety and responsible online behavior into their programs, and advocate for policies addressing online harassment.

Resources

Resources

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