The Gender and Justice Unit (GJU), in partnership with the Southern Africa Trust, convened the 2025 Pabwalo on Digital Violence in December as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The dialogue brought together key institutions, civil society, and survivors to address the growing crisis of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in Malawi.
Women and girls in Malawi continue to face online harms such as social media harassment, image-based abuse, sextortion, cyberstalking, and gendered disinformation – particularly targeting women in leadership and public life. These abuses silence women’s voices, limit participation, and reinforce systemic inequality.
From Dialogue to Accountability
The Pabwalo was designed to move beyond discussion toward accountability. GJU convened duty bearers – including the Malawi Police Service, MACRA, the Malawi Human Rights Commission, the Malawi Law Society, the Ministry of Gender, and NGO-GCN – to first hear survivor testimonies before outlining their mandates and commitments.
While Malawi has strong legal protections under the Constitution, the Gender Equality Act, and the Electronic Transactions and Cybersecurity Act, enforcement remains inconsistent. Survivors often do not report abuse due to stigma, victim-blaming, unethical practices, and weak case handling within the justice system.
Digital Violence and Public Life
Discussions highlighted how digital violence is increasingly used to exclude women from public and political participation. During the 2025 elections, women candidates and aspiring leaders faced coordinated online attacks, misogyny, and misinformation—undermining their visibility, credibility, and safety.
Commitments and the Way Forward
Institutions have made concrete commitments to strengthen prevention, reporting, and response to TFGBV. GJU reaffirmed its role in advancing legal empowerment and access to justice, including through the EmpowerLine (Dial 4285 – Toll-Free), which connects survivors with legal information and support.
Looking ahead, GJU will continue driving case accountability and expand legal empowerment initiatives, including increased access to information in vernacular languages, to ensure action against digital violence extends beyond the 16 Days of Activism.
The 2025 Pabwalo on Digital Violence was made possible with the additional support of Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI) and Trócaire.
📄 Read the full 2025 Pabwalo on Digital Violence Event Report for detailed findings and commitments.
