Lusaka, Zambia — Oxfam has raised alarm over the increasing misuse of social media platforms as tools for gender-based violence (GBV), warning that the trend threatens the potential of digital spaces to contribute positively to national development.
Oxfam Policy and Programme Manager, Faith Minja, said the organisation has observed a surge in content across various online platforms that infringes on individual rights and fuels acts of GBV.
She noted that in the pursuit of online traction, some content creators are producing material — including advertisements and social media posts — that perpetuate harmful stereotypes and encourage violence against women and girls.
This year’s 2025 GBV theme, “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” underscores the need for collective action to tackle online harassment and protect the rights of vulnerable groups.
Ms. Minja further urged traditional leaders, community members, and the general public to take proactive steps to address all forms of gender-based violence, both online and offline, highlighting that combating GBV requires collaboration at all levels of society.
She emphasised the importance of awareness campaigns, education, and stricter regulation of harmful digital content as critical measures in creating safer online spaces for women and girls.
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