Women's rights in Africa: The 9 recommendations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights on digital violence

The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights has made nine recommendations to States regarding digital violence. They were established during its 72nd ordinary session, which took place virtually from July 19 to August 2, 2022. Synthesis!

In order to ensure the respect of women's rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights has addressed the issue of women and the digital world. Through the resolution ACHPR/RES. 522 (LXXII) 2022 on the protection of women against digital violence, it suggested 9 recommendations. The first recommendation is to fight against digital violence against women.

Indeed, according to the commission, States must revise or adopt legislation to fight against all forms of digital violence and expand the definition of gender-based violence to include gender violence.violence against women, including cyber-bullying, gender-based hate speech, among other ICT-related violations.

Secondly, she proposes to conduct research on digital violence against women. For her, African countries must undertake research on digital violence against women. This research should include studies and adjustment of crime statistics on digital violence against women to identify legislative and non-legislative needs.

Men and boys must also be involved. As a third recommendation, she emphasizes that boys and men need to be sensitized. This should be done through campaigns involving all relevant stakeholders. These programs must address the root causes of digital violence against women in the general context of gender-based violence, in order toThese programs must address the root causes of digital violence against women in the general context of gender-based violence, in order to bring about changes in social and cultural attitudes and to remove gender norms and stereotypes, while promoting respect for human rights in the online space, with a particular focus on social media platforms.

Women journalists taken into account

Fourth, it is about facilitating women's education in digital technology. The Commission reiterated that governments must increasingly facilitate women's access to education in digital technology fields in order to eliminate the gender digital divide, and ensure gender diversity in the technology sector.

Fifth, it calls for mandatory training for professionals dealing with victims of digital violence. Mandatory and ongoing training for practitioners and professionals dealing with victims of digital violence, including law enforcement, social service and child health personnel, criminal justice actors, and members of the judiciary, should be developed and provided.

As a sixth resolution, there was a call to promote cooperation. Commission resolution 522 recommends ensuring and facilitating effective cooperation between law enforcement authorities and service providers in the identification of perpetrators and the collection of evidence, which should be done in full respect of fundamental rights and freedoms and data protection rules.

The seventh is to take into account the sensitivity of the victims. The African human rights mechanism proposes the implementation of victim-friendly and gender-sensitive policies in dealing with cases of digital violence against women.

Eighth, it was suggested to ensure the protection of women journalists. Especially those who work on digital media need to be protected from digital violence, including gender-sensitive media literacy and digital safety training.

The last recommendation, the ninth, is devoted to the repeal of vague legislation. The commission recommends that states repeal vague and overly broad surveillance laws, as they contribute to the current vulnerability of women journalists.

According to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, this resolution constitutes a better instrument for the protection of women's rights on the continent. The States, in the respect of their international commitments, should take measures to make operational this important resolution of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. It should be recalled that the Commission ensures the protection and promotion of human and peoples' rights on the entire African continent.

Source: lefaso.net