Migori County has joined the global call to end digital violence against women and girls, warning that technological advancements, while enhancing communication and innovation, have also created new avenues for abuse.
Speaking during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Prof. Rose A. O. Odhiambo, Chief Officer at the Directorate of Gender Inclusivity, Culture and Social Services, said that online harassment is becoming a growing threat, particularly to young women, journalists, leaders, and school-going girls.
“Over 85 per cent of women globally have experienced or witnessed online violence, and one in five women aged 15–24 has faced digital harassment, often from someone they know,” Prof. Odhiambo said, citing UN Women’s 2024 assessment.
The County Chief Officer highlighted three pressing challenges identified in the 2024 UN Secretary-General’s Report on Violence Against Women and Girls: a growing backlash against women’s rights; the misuse of artificial intelligence to spread harmful content; and the rise of the manosphere, promoting misogynistic narratives that influence public attitudes and fuel real-world violence.
Prof. Odhiambo also warned against digital harms such as doxing, where private information is shared without consent, and deepfake abuse, which involves the manipulation of images and videos of individuals, mostly women and girls. Such acts, she said, can lead to stalking, cyberbullying, extortion, and even physical attacks.
“This digital revolution requires a coordinated response,” she said. “County governments, the national government, community leaders, civil society, and technology stakeholders must actively protect the digital rights, dignity, and safety of women and girls.”
During the 16-day campaign, themed “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”, Migori County is committed to building a society where women, girls, men, and boys live in safety and dignity.
Prof. Odhiambo said the county, under the leadership of Governor Dr. Ochillo Ayacko, would continue implementing initiatives, including the Piny Luo program, to mobilize communities to combat harmful practices such as FGM, intimate partner violence, rape, child abuse, teen pregnancies, sexual exploitation, and domestic violence.
She urged the public to join the county in solidarity with survivors of sexual and action.
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