Today, 25 November, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is a global reminder that violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread human rights violations.

This year, the international campaign focuses on digital violence. Under the theme, Digital violence is real violence. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls, the 2025 UNiTE campaign highlights the growing use of digital tools to harass, threaten, and silence women and girls. It emphasises the need for clear laws, stronger platform accountability, and better support for those experiencing digital abuse.

In Victoria, the 16 Days of Activism – supported by Respect Victoria and Safe and Equal – encourages communities to participate in the global movement by promoting respect, equality, and safety.

What is considered violence against women and girls?

Violence against women and girls remains largely unreported due to impunity, silence, stigma, and shame.

It can take physical, sexual, and psychological forms, including:

• Intimate partner violence: battering, psychological abuse, marital rape, femicide
• Sexual violence and harassment: rape, forced sexual acts, unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, street harassment, stalking, cyber-harassment
• Human trafficking: slavery, sexual exploitation
• Female genital mutilation
• Child marriage.

The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, issued by the General Assembly in 1992, defines violence against women as:

“any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”

Violence against women and girls impacts women at all stages of life, limiting access to education, employment, and opportunities.

Certain groups of women and girls – such as those in vulnerable situations or humanitarian crises including war, migrants, members of the LGBTI community, Indigenous people, or those with disabilities – face heightened risks of violence.

Violence against women and girls remains a significant barrier to achieving equality, development, and peace, as well as to fulfilling the human rights of women and girls. Ultimately, the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – to leave no one behind – cannot be realised without eradicating violence against women and girls.

Understanding digital violence against women and girls

Digital violence often goes unreported due to stigma, and a lack of legal recognition. These harms have significant real-world impacts, contributing to coercion, physical violence, and in some cases, femicide.

Forms of digital abuse include:

• Non-consensual sharing of intimate images
• Cyberbullying, trolling, and threats
• Online sexual harassment
• Deepfake pornography and other AI-generated manipulated media
• Hate speech and disinformation
• Doxxing
• Online stalking and surveillance
• Grooming, exploitation, impersonation and catfishing
• Misogynistic online networks such as manosphere and incel forums.

Women with public or online visibility – including activists, journalists, and women in politics – are often targeted. The impact is intensified for women who experience intersecting forms of discrimination, such as racism, ableism, homophobia, or transphobia.

According to the 2024 report of the UN Secretary-General on violence against women and girls, there are three emerging challenges:

• Growing backlash against women's rights
• The rapid rise of artificial intelligence
• The expansion of the manosphere – “an ecosystem of misogynistic content that is seeping into mainstream culture, shaping public attitudes towards women, and fueling violence.”

Studies show:

• 58 per cent of girls and young women have experienced some form of online harassment
• 85 per cent have witnessed digital violence against others
• up to 95 per cent of deepfake pornography features women
• 73 per cent of women journalists report experiencing online violence
• fewer than 40 per cent of countries have laws protecting women from cyber harassment or cyberstalking (Sources 1 & 2).

Because digital abuse can escalate into offline harm, addressing it is an essential part of preventing violence against women more broadly.

A shared responsibility

The 2025 UNiTE campaign calls for action across society. Governments are encouraged to implement and enforce laws that recognise and penalise digital abuse. Technology companies are urged to improve safety, reduce harmful content, and respond promptly to reports. Donors and institutions are asked to fund organisations working to prevent violence. Individuals are encouraged to support survivors, challenge harmful behaviours, and contribute to safer online spaces.

Digital safety is increasingly central to women’s participation in public and community life, making coordinated action essential.

16 Days of Activism and the 2025 UNiTE Campaign

Running from 25 November to 10 December, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence encourages communities worldwide to work collectively to prevent violence. This year’s campaign aligns with the UNiTE call to address digital violence and strengthen prevention strategies across all environments where women and girls live, work, and connect.

You can take part by engaging with UN Women’s campaign materials, using the hashtag #NoExcuse, and sharing information that supports safe and respectful digital spaces.

Local action: Victoria’s commitment to safe and equal communities

Across Victoria, the 16 Days of Activism provides an opportunity to raise awareness and promote community-led prevention. Respect Victoria and Safe and Equal support councils, women’s health services, workplaces, and community groups to participate.

In 2025, Victorians are invited to take part in the Walk Against Family Violence on Friday 28 November in Melbourne’s CBD. This annual event brings thousands together to show support for ending family violence.

Safe and Equal also provides:

• The 16 Days Helpdesk for tailored support
• A statewide community events calendar
• Free webinars and workshops
• Examples of previous community initiatives
• A fortnightly 16 Days Bulletin with resources and updates.

To support multilingual communities, the 16 Days explainers and glossaries are available in Arabic, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Greek, Punjabi, Vietnamese, and Easy English.

Victorians can also join the public conversation by following Respect Victoria and sharing poses using #16Days and #16DaysOfActivism.

Conclusion

Violence against women and girls, whether offline or online, remains a major barrier to equality, safety, and human rights. Digital violence is an increasingly significant part of this picture, affecting women and girls across all ages, backgrounds, and communities. On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, collective and sustained action remains essential. Together, we can work towards a future where all women and girls can live, participate, and speak without fear of violence in any form.

Resources

• 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (Respect Victoria)
• 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (UN Women)
• Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (UN)
• Digital violence is intensifying, yet nearly half of the world's women and girls lack legal protection from digital abuse (UN Women)
• FAQ: Digital abuse, trolling, stalking, and other forms of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (UN Women)
• Help end digital violence against women and girls (eSafety Commissioner)
• International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (UN)
• Walk Against Family Violence 2025 (Respect Victoria)

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CourtHeath acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal Owners of Country throughout Victoria and pays respect to Elders past and  present, and to the ongoing living culture of Aboriginal people.

A participant in the UN Global Compact, CourtHeath seeks to raise awareness about the sustainable development goals and the principles of the Global Compact with business and government organisations in Victoria.

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IMAGE: UN Women

[#NoExcuse, #16DaysOfActivism2025, #UNiTE]