As the world marks the close of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. This year’s theme, “Ending Digital-Violence against women & Girls”, reminds us that technology can be both a tool for empowerment and a weapon of harm. For countless women and girls, abuse does not stop at the door it follows them into digital spaces, where harassment, threats, and exploitation can feel just as real and damaging as physical violence. Sustaining momentum beyond these 16 days means transforming awareness into consistent action, strengthening laws, and challenging harmful mindsets both online and offline.
Gender-based violence is rooted in inequality and harmful beliefs, but in today’s world, it is also amplified by technology. Online abuse, cyberbullying, and the spread of harmful content are not “less serious” forms of violence they are violations of human rights. As digital platforms grow, so do the risks. Ending violence means creating safe, inclusive spaces both offline and online, where women and girls can thrive without fear.
Young men and boys are at the heart of this transformation. You are not just witnesses you are leaders of change. The way you behave online matters. Sharing harmful memes, spreading rumors, or staying silent when friends harass girls online makes you part of the problem. But choosing respect, reporting abuse, and using your voice to defend dignity makes you part of the solution.
Respect is strength. Courage is refusing to laugh at degrading jokes. Leadership is standing up when others stay silent. Imagine a digital world where your sisters, classmates, and friends feel safe to express themselves that world begins with you.
At our commemoration, the Guest of Honour the Officer-in-Charge of Mchinji Police, reminded young people that online abuse is still abuse. He urged adolescents to report any form of digital violence without fear. His message is clear: as technology grows, so do the risks, and together we must make our digital spaces safe, inclusive, and free from harm.
At GAYO, we stand in solidarity with survivors and advocates worldwide. But solidarity is not passive it means pushing for accountability, prevention, and justice that lasts beyond campaigns. It means recognizing that violence is not “someone else’s problem” but a challenge that demands everyone’s involvement.
Ending gender-based violence is not only about protecting women and girls; it is about reshaping society into one that values fairness, empathy, and respect. For adolescent boys, this is a chance to redefine masculinity not as dominance, but as partnership. True strength is shown in kindness, in listening, and in defending those who cannot defend themselves.
The Promise We Must Keep
Every woman deserves to live free from violence, every single day. And every boy has the power to help make that promise real. The 16 Days of Activism may end on 10 December, but the responsibility to act continues. Let’s build digital and physical spaces where courage, respect, and justice are not slogans but lived realities. Together, let’s stand with girls, young women, and the entire community in saying NO to all forms of GBV — online and offline.
