Online Violence Surges
Internet penetration across Central and East Africa has soared, yet safety protocols trail behind. Advocates say that gap is allowing harassment, blackmail and hate speech to flourish, targeting women with unprecedented speed (Eye Radio).
Cyber-harassment reports filed in Juba rose 40 percent last year, according to local NGOs, mirroring patterns already noted in Nairobi, Lagos and Brazzaville (Eye Radio).
Voices from Juba Conference
“Gender-based violence has migrated online and is amplified there,” said IT specialist Yine Yineki, founder of Go Girls Initiative ICT, during the fifth National Women, Peace and Security Conference in Juba (Eye Radio).
She urged lawmakers to craft data-protection rules that match the continent’s rapid digitisation, stressing that silence now would entrench harmful norms for a generation.
Technology’s Double Edge
Activist Joice Makier underlined technology’s brighter side, noting that mobile apps already help rural women report threats anonymously and track conflict indicators in real time (Eye Radio).
“We may lack roads, but we have networks,” she argued (Eye Radio). “Digital rooms let isolated voices be heard, shape peace talks and spotlight needs before violence erupts.”
Calls for Inclusive Accountability
Communications advocate Poni Henry said responsibility rests with every user, especially men, who remain statistically more likely to post abusive content (Eye Radio).
She proposed community-led reporting systems that flag harmful memes, doctored photos and gendered slurs before they trend (Eye Radio).
Regional Context and Policy Pathways
Across the Congo Basin, regulators are already drafting cybersecurity bills that reference experiences shared in Juba, signalling a regional front against online gender violence.
Brazzaville officials say partnership with civil society will ensure the new frameworks protect free expression while shutting down digital spaces that facilitate abuse.
Advocates believe that blending legal reforms, tech innovation and grassroots vigilance can shift the web from a battlefield into a bridge for peace.