Dear Listers, This month, we will be focusing on an important issue that impacts countless individuals, particularly women: Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV). OGBV is a form of gender-based violence facilitated by technology, and it takes various harmful forms, including bullying, defamation, hate speech, sexual harassment, and stalking. Here are some important statistics: - 85% of women globally have experienced some form of online violence. - 65% of women know others in their circles who have been targeted online. - 38% of women have personally faced online violence. (Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit) - Young women are disproportionately affected, with 45% of Gen Z and Millennials reporting personal experiences, compared to 31% of Gen X and Baby Boomers. Most of this violence is sexual and often targets a person’s appearance, exploiting perceived vulnerabilities. Throughout this month, we’ll be discussing OGBV, its impact, and ways to create safer online spaces for everyone. To dive deeper into this issue, we encourage you to read KICTANet's report, "Unmasking The Trolls: Research on Online Gender-Based Violence in Kenya" here <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/?mdocs-file=48843>. This is in partnership with the UK Digital Access Programme (DAP) and the Kenyan government, is working to narrow the digital divide in Busia and Mandera counties. Also, join the conversation #CyberAwarenessKE and #DigitalAccessProgramme and stay informed by following KICTANet’s social media pages <https://linktr.ee/Kictanet>. Let’s work together to raise awareness and make a positive impact in the fight against OGBV -- *Kind Regards,* *David Indeje* *@**KICTANet* <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/> * Communications *_____________________________________ +254 (0) 711 385 945 | +254 (0) 734 024 856 KICTANet portals Connect With Us <https://linktr.ee/Kictanet> ______________________________________