New Campaign Launched to Tackle Cyber-Violence Against Women and Girls

A new public awareness campaign, “Fam kone to drwa online” (Women know your rights online), was officially launched this week to combat the growing threat of cyber-violence targeting women and young girls.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Arianne Navarre-Marie, aims to raise awareness among women, girls, and parents about the risks of online abuse and to promote the tools and legal remedies available for protection and reporting.

Urgent Need Highlighted by Tragic Consequences

During the launch event, held at the Café du Vieux Conseil in Port Louis on Monday, Minister Navarre-Marie stressed the critical importance of the campaign, stating that too many women and young girls have suffered from cyber-harassment, with some cases tragically leading to suicide among young people.

The Minister revealed that earlier this year, her department had compiled a dossier of testimonies from several women who were victims of abuse on the Telegram platform. This significant evidence was subsequently submitted to the Commissioner of Police.

Cross-Ministerial Collaboration and Family Support

Minister Navarre-Marie also highlighted a collaborative effort with the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation to better support families.

She stated that the two ministries are “working in close collaboration… to propose packages” designed to help parents be more vigilant and to better supervise their children’s online activity.

Official Launch Event Details

The official launch was attended by several high-profile figures, including the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Avinash Ramtohul, the United Nations representative in Mauritius, and members of the police force.

Source: Defi Media