Digital violence against women as a form of sexist abuse

Cyberbullying, harassment and violence exercised through digital dynamics are gaining relevance in the struggle to eradicate sexist violence. The warnings and challenges from the perspective of humanitarian bodies.

Violence and harassment through digital channels are emerging as one of the major challenges to be addressed by international bodies. Specifically, digital violence against women stands out as one of the most prominent points in these debates, which bring together technological advances, the risks of the digital world, criteria for control and regulation, and the culture of machismo. As the demands of the women's movement grow deeper, international human rights organizations are placing emphasis on the fight against gender-based violence in the digital world. 

Specifically, in recent days the United Nations released a new document reaffirming its call on countries to develop joint strategies to prevent and combat cyberbullying and online violence against women. The campaign “Es real, es violencia digital” (It's real, it's digital violence), jointly promoted by organizations from Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico with UN support, reflects the growth of this problem, in step with increasingly rapid and sophisticated technological developments. 

In its statement, the UN maintains that while violence against women has existed throughout history in the spheres that organized public life in each era (the street, work, school, the domestic sphere), the digital space emerges as a universe capable of “amplifying” the violence of the physical world. Comments, images, audiovisual content and messages can achieve a reach that may expose women to millions of potential recipients. 

According to UN Women data, it is estimated that 9 out of 10 women have witnessed acts of digital violence against other women, and more than 90% of so-called sexual “deepfakes” depict women. In Latin America, 9 out of 10 women have been victims of some type of violence in which the digital sphere served as a means of facilitating the act.

Among the forms of violence that can be facilitated by technology, Amnesty International (AI) has released a series of examples that ground the problem in concrete cases. These include actions such as the disclosure of personal data, abuse based on videos and photos, and the theft of sensitive information in images or video to extort money from a woman. Added to these are cases of hate speech being spread against women belonging to the LGBTI+ community. All these cases have been driven by a system of misogynistic values that leaves women more vulnerable to such practices. 

The Inter-American Commission of Women (OAS) has been addressing this issue and contributing to the discussion on possible legal and judicial frameworks so that states can incorporate regulations into their systems. This includes promoting a Model Law to establish basic standards for preserving women's human rights with regard to digital violence, applicable to the frameworks of the different countries. 

Cyberbullying on the rights agenda

Although the discussion still has a long challenge ahead, it has also managed to establish itself on the agenda of debate in multiple arenas. Such is the case of the Premio 25 de Noviembre (November 25 Prize), awarded by the Barcelona City Council in Spain, whose theme in 2025 was precisely “Barcelona against digital sexist violence.” On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the council decided to place the discussion about aggression in the digital world at the center of the award.

The aim of this prize was to provide financial support for proposals that help improve the tools and strategies for eradicating this type of violence. 

The legal precedent of Marion Reimers

One of the most paradigmatic cases of sexist digital violence and its legal repercussions was that of Mexican sports journalist Marion Reimers. As a media figure, Reimers gained notable prominence in presenting and commentating on sporting events, and her career reached a peak of exposure during the European Champions League tournament. There, a wave of violent comments against her prompted the start of the journalist's long struggle to achieve legal recognition of digital violence. 

A series of lawsuits before various national and international courts brought visibility not only to the digital aggression of which women are victims, but also to the bureaucratic and legal obstacles to having this grievance legitimized as such.

Guillermo Whpei

President of Fundación para la Democracia