In Pakistan, technology can make violence or harrassment against women and girls harder to escape. Online harrassment and violence can restrict freedom just as easily as physical harm. A girl may stop going to school. A woman may leave a job, close her business, stop speaking online or avoid friends. Families may take away her phone or blame her for the abuse. Her freedom becomes smaller whereas the person causing harm gains more control. Telling women to stay offline is not a solution. Families, authorities and digital platforms need to ensure women are protected online. Technology should never become another tool for controlling women.
Tania Shahjahan
Qambar Shahdadkot
