TO increase awareness of gender-based violence on digital platforms, a special engagement session called ‘Shaping Safer Digital Spaces: End Online Gender-Based Violence’ was recently held at the Penang Institute.
The event was jointly organised by the Bukit Bendera Parliament Service Centre, KRYSS Network, Women’s Aid Organisation (WOA), and Women Centre for Change (WCC), drawing participation from representatives of various organisations and individuals.
Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid said anyone can become a victim of online gender-based violence but women and marginalised communities are particularly vulnerable.
“The online gender-based violence and misogyny have a significant impact on Malaysian women, affecting their ability to fully engage in the digital world.
“Malaysian women often face cyberbullying, online harassment, and threats specifically because of our gender.
“This can include explicit sexual harassment, demeaning comments and even sharing of personal information without consent, leading to real-life safety concerns,” Syerleena said during her speech at the event on Jan 20.
Apart from that, Syerleena also said that both the government and non-governmental organisations play an instrumental role in addressing the issue.
“Governments can enact and strictly enforce legislation to fight against online gender-based violence while providing educational programmes on responsible online behaviour and safety.
“NGOs, on the other hand, serve as a vital support system for victims by offering essential support in the form of counselling, legal aid, and also emotional assistance,” she said.
Syerleena also highlighted that to tackle the issue, creating awareness of it should be a continuous effort.
“When we talk from the legislation point of view, Malaysia does have an extensive law on this, but we must tackle the execution part of these laws to effectively combat online gender-based violence,” Syerleena added.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Siew Chia En