Digital gender abuse will increase in the Middle East

Significance

Among other things, the safety and security of women and gendered communities is being undermined by the abuse of poorly regulated technology. The impunity of online violence towards women, in all forms, has led to an increasing entrenchment of anti-gender attitudes in MENA.

Impacts

• Elections taking place in a number of MENA countries in the coming year will not reflect the needs and interests of all citizens.
• Civil society activists will struggle to push back against repression as they are forced to conform and adapt their practices and outputs.
• Enabled digital violence could ultimately lead to violence against women and LGBTQ+ people offline.