Women the main victims of sexual harassment on Mozambique social networks

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Women the main victims of sexual harassment on Mozambique social networks

11:41 CAT | 27 Jan 2017

Folha de Maputo (File photo)

Women are worst affected by sexual and moral harassment on social networks in Maputo, according to a study by the Institute of Scientific Research, Innovation and Information and Communication Technology (SIITRI) launched in the Mozambican capital.

The study was presented by the coordinator of the online women’s rights project, Alsácia Nhacumbe, at a press conference to announce the holding of the 1st Conference on digital equality and women’s rights in Maputo today Friday.

According to Nhacumbe, the study, which began in 2015 and ended last year, targeted women and men from 29 Maputo neighbourhoods, and aimed to assess the level of access to information and communication technologies by women.

The survey polled 1,044 people in Maputo – 786 women and 258 men. Thirty-one women and 29 men reported having suffered some form of aggression or sexual harassment via Facebook and Whatsapp. Sexual harassment also takes place via SMS (short message service), with women again the main target.

The study suggests that the government approves policies and strategies to address aggression and harassment and the protection of women and girls in social networks and other media, including sensitizing politicians and civil society in general to online rights.

The study found that all women and men have a cell phone, but only a third of women, out of a total of about 600, are connected to the internet. One of the goals of the project is to address this by introducing free internet data subsidies.

The authors also suggest setting digital empowerment targets for women and creating public education initiatives to train women and girls in the use of information technology to support their access to information and vital services related to education, livelihood, rights and well-being.

In addition, the study suggests that public access to the internet should be guaranteed to women, as well as free access to information and communication technologies in health centers, libraries and employment centers for women, thereby supporting women’s access to and use of communications technology in public spaces.

The foundation’s online women’s rights newsletter created in partnership with SIITRI and aimed at contributing to the empowerment of women in Maputo city, will also be launched at the meeting on Friday.

Source: AIM Moçambique