Violence Against Women : Digital Security Crucial!

Stakeholders, in Cameroon and globally are highlighting that extreme physical violence shatters the lives of countless women daily. 76 of such cases were reported in 2024 alone. With the rise of new technologies, online violence against women and girls is escalating. It is within this backdrop that the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Abena Ondoa nee Obama Marie Therese alongside national and international partners, yesterday, November 25, 2025 in Yaounde launched the 19th edition of the Global Campaign “16 days of Activism” to fight violence against women and girls. 
The Minister of Women's Empowerment stated that the campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10, serves as a poignant link between the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and International Human Rights Day. This deliberate connection, according to the Minister, underscores the notion that violence against women and girls constitutes a fundamental human rights violation, necessitating collective efforts to eradicate this global scourge, which has been further exacerbated by the proliferation of technology.
This year, Cameroon has adopted the United Nations theme, “United to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls”, highlighting the growing concern of digital violence, also referred to as technology-facilitated gender-based violence. The Minister of Women's Empowerment, Abena Ondoa, noted that the digital space, once perceived as liberating, has become a breeding ground for harassment, cyberstalking, and online abuse, with far-reaching consequences for women and girls. She emphasized that Cameroon, under the leadership of President Paul Biya, has ...