The Association for Women in Media (AWOME) has called for stronger action to protect women and girls from online abuse as Malawi joins the global 2025 Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. This year’s campaign is being observed under the theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”
In a statement released on 25 November 2025, AWOME described the theme as a powerful reminder of the growing need to make digital spaces safe, inclusive and empowering for all women and girls.
The organisation raised concern about the rising cases of digital violence targeting female journalists in Malawi — including cyberbullying, harassment, misinformation, stalking and coordinated attacks on platforms such as Facebook. AWOME noted that these violations not only silence women’s voices but also threaten media freedom, dignity and equal participation in public discourse.
AWOME strongly condemned all forms of online abuse directed at women in the media and urged media institutions, technology companies, policymakers and the general public to take coordinated action to curb digital violence and hold perpetrators accountable.
As the Sixteen Days of Activism continue, the association reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women in the media, promoting digital safety and advocating for stronger systems and policies that safeguard women’s voices both online and offline.
“Let us work together to build a safe and supportive digital environment, one where women and girls can speak, work and thrive without fear,” said AWOME Chairperson Dorothy Kachitsa.
