Local communities must provide a stronger response to digital violence against women

The panel “From Online Hate to Real-Life Consequences” is part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. This year’s campaign is jointly implemented by UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA, and UNICEF, in partnership with the Agency for Gender Equality of BiH of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, and civil society organizations. The campaign is carried out through the joint Gender Equality Accelerator (GEA) programme, in partnership with the European Union, Sweden, and Denmark, within the framework of cooperation between the United Nations and the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of advancing gender equality and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

The event in Bijeljina was organized in partnership with Lara Foundation, an organization that, through its many years of work, has provided support and guidance to many women seeking to break free from the cycle of violence. Nataša Kurtuma, head of the office at the Lara Foundation, explains that technological development has not only brought benefits, but also created additional space for manipulation and abuse. She notes that it is increasingly common for the women who use their services to have experienced digital violence in addition to other forms of abuse.

“Besides the direct victims, the process also draws in family members and friends, which makes the harm even greater. The consequences are severe and can often be extremely dangerous, especially the psychological ones, because we are talking about younger groups of people who are often very unstable and immature, which can result in self-harm or even suicide,” emphasized Nataša Kurtuma.

Adequate support for survivors of digital violence is possible only if there is cooperation among various institutions and support services within local communities. Therefore, in the coming period, it will be necessary to further strengthen support services and ensure more active involvement of various stakeholders.

“Local governments have relatively limited mandates in this area, but it is necessary, through our influence and in cooperation with educational institutions and other organizations, to work on raising awareness about this serious issue, as well as initiating changes to certain legal acts or introducing new ones, and creating appropriate mechanisms for the early detection of all forms of digital violence,” said Radoslav Ostojić, advisor to the Mayor of Bijeljina.

The digital sphere should be a supportive environment for all girls and young women, offering them space to further develop and grow. Unfortunately, young women often experience the opposite, developing insecurity and a sense that this space is not meant for them.

“This is a serious societal issue, because a society in which women withdraw out of fear becomes a society in which their voices are missing – to the detriment of all of us. Institutions are increasingly confronted with these problems, yet clear protocols, rapid responses, and coordinated action are still lacking. That is why the cooperation we are building here in Bijeljina through the work of the Lara Foundation and local partners is crucial for recognizing, reporting, and preventing digital violence,” said Nina Kovač, Programme Specialist and Head of Programmes at UN Women BiH.

The citizens of Bijeljina also had the opportunity to view an exhibition of illustrations by young Banja Luka–based artist Nataša Konjević, dedicated to digital violence against women. 

Until the end of the “16 Days of Activism” campaign, a series of events will be held in cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through public discussions, artistic performances, and publication launches, these activities aim to send a clear message to the public: “Digital violence is real violence”.