Tarr Town, Old Road, Montserrado – ActionAid Liberia (AAL) has officially launched activities marking the 2025 International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, with a strong call for collective action to end the rising trend of digital violence against women and girls across Liberia.
Joining the global ActionAid Federation and partners worldwide, AAL announced a series of nationwide engagements aimed at promoting digital safety, empowerment, and stronger advocacy to protect women and girls both online and offline.
As one of Liberia’s leading human rights and social justice organizations for over 25 years, ActionAid Liberia says its work in championing the rights of women, girls, and marginalized groups has been grounded in building stronger movements, networks, and policy reforms.
This year, AAL is collaborating with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and several national partners to ensure a coordinated national observance of the 16 Days campaign at both national and community levels. Key collaborating institutions include the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL), the County Rural Women Structures, the National FGM Working Group, and implementing partners Domafeign, NATPAH, LIWEN, SAIL, and WOCDAL.
The 2025 global theme, “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” highlights the escalating risks of online abuse and technology-driven harm. Liberia’s national theme, “Unite to End Violence: Protecting All Women and Children in Our Communities and Digital Spaces,” reflects the urgency of addressing both physical and digital forms of abuse.
Empowering Young Women and Building Digital Safety Skills
AAL says its 16 Days campaign focuses on equipping young urban women, youth, and persons living with disabilities with practical tools to enhance cybersecurity awareness, social media protection, online reporting pathways, and safe digital engagement.
To achieve this, AAL will roll out creative digital campaigns, partnerships, and targeted community engagements, including efforts to involve men and boys as allies in promoting positive masculinity and ending gender-based violence.
Key Activities for the 2025 Campaign
• November 25: Participation in the official government launch, alongside AAL’s rollout of a nationwide Digital Campaign Against Online Abuse, featuring infographics, videos, and storytelling on safe digital behavior.
• November 27–28: A Young Urban Women’s Movement training, bringing together 100 young women for feminist movement-building, advocacy for gender-responsive public services, and economic justice perspectives.
• December 5 & 10: AAL will host a Digital Awareness session for 100 young people and a Regional Webinar on Digital Safety for Girls and Women, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Ghana.
Rising Wave of Abuse Calls for Urgent Action
AAL warned that Liberia continues to experience an alarming increase in GBV cases—over 3,500 documented incidents this year alone, according to the Ministry of Gender. These include domestic violence, rape, online bullying, and digital harassment.
“The fight against domestic violence, rape, digital violence, and online bullying calls for all hands on deck,” AAL stated, emphasizing that the rights of girls and women are human rights that must be protected at all costs.
Digital Violence: A Growing Threat
Drawing from recent UN Women data, AAL highlighted the severity of digital violence globally:
• 38% of women have experienced some form of online abuse;
• 85% of users have witnessed digital violence;
• 98% of deepfake pornography is created using women’s images without their consent.
In Liberia, ActionAid says digital abuse—ranging from non-consensual image sharing to cyberstalking and online threats—is gradually being normalized, posing a threat to women’s safety, dignity, and participation in digital spaces.
“This must stop. Everyone has a responsibility to join the campaign and say NO to digital violence, because any of us—or someone we know—could be the next victim,” AAL emphasized.
As the 16 Days of Activism continues, ActionAid Liberia reaffirms its commitment to a safer, more just society where women and girls can thrive freely, online and offline.
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