RWAMREC and Inspire Impact Hub are collaborating to combat technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in Rwanda, raising awareness and building national capacity to address this growing threat that disproportionately affects women and girls in digital spaces. Technology-facilitated gender-based violence refers to acts of gender-based violence enabled by digital technologies, including cyberstalking, cyberbullying, online harassment, doxing, sextortion, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Activists convened on November 6 for the “Dialogue on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence”, together with officials from the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), and other key stakeholders. They described technology-facilitated gender-based violence as a modern form of abuse that mirrors offline inequalities, exploiting the anonymity and vast reach of digital platforms to intimidate, shame, or control victims. ALSO READ: The hidden harm of cyberbullying: Why Rwandan youth need more than ‘just log off’ According to the research conducted by RWAMREC, a Rwandan NGO promoting gender equality by engaging men and boys to transform harmful norms and promote positive masculinity, young girls and women aged between 18 and 25 are the major targets of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Public figures, activists, and members of marginalised groups, including vulnerable groups, are particularly targeted. A growing problem in a digitally advancing Rwanda As noted, Rwanda’s rapid digital transformation has made it one of Africa’s technology leaders, with over 12.5 million mobile subscribers, 34.2 per cent internet penetration, and 1.3 million active social media users. But as digital access expands, online safety, particularly for women, remains a critical challenge. RWAMREC noted that while 58 per cent of women globally have faced technology-facilitated gender-based violence, the phenomenon in Rwanda remains under-researched and underreported. There is limited understanding of how such violence manifests locally, where to report it, or how to respond effectively. “Rwanda has made remarkable progress in ICT and innovation, and we are proud of these achievements,” said Fidele Rutayisire, Executive Director of RWAMREC. “However, digital advancement must go hand-in-hand with online safety, accountability, and respect for human dignity.” “Our recent national study, Scars Beyond the Screen, revealed that many women and girls face real emotional and economic consequences from online violence. These are not just digital incidents — they affect real lives and real futures,” he explained. “This dialogue is therefore timely and necessary. It allows us to raise awareness, strengthen coordination among key actors, and mobilise collective action to build safer and more inclusive digital spaces for all Rwandans,” he added. ALSO READ: Cyberbullying, sharing of nudes to be criminalised Common forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence RWAMREC’s findings highlight several recurring forms of digital abuse: Cyberbullying and online harassment: the use of technology to repeatedly contact, threaten, or humiliate someone, often taking personal or sexual forms and sometimes spreading as coordinated hate speech. Doxing: the non-consensual disclosure of private or sensitive information aimed at shaming or endangering victims. Sextortion and non-consensual image sharing; threats to release real or fabricated intimate content to blackmail victims, often by former partners or online predators. Cyberstalking, digital surveillance, or tracking that can escalate into offline harassment or physical danger. These violations have serious psychological and social consequences, including anxiety, depression, reputational damage, and even loss of employment or educational opportunities. Some victims withdraw entirely from online spaces out of fear, further silencing women’s voices in public discourse, the organisation noted. Rwanda has a strong legal and policy framework on gender equality and GBV prevention. The country criminalised gender-based violence in 2008, adopted a national anti-GBV policy in 2011, and established a strategic plan (2019–2024) supported by Isange One Stop Centres offering comprehensive services to survivors. To address digital forms of violence, Rwanda has enacted additional laws, including the Law on the Prevention and Punishment of Cyber Crimes (2018), which criminalises online harassment and sexual coercion, and the Law on the Protection of Personal Data and Privacy (2021). In addition, campaigns like “Be Safe Online” and Internet Safety and Privacy Week in primary schools aim to promote safe online behaviour among youth and families. However, RWAMREC and Inspire Impact Hub emphasise that public awareness of these protections remains low, and enforcement is still limited. Many victims do not recognise online abuse as a crime or fear social backlash for reporting it. ALSO READ: Rwanda moves to combat tech-facilitated GBV Social media and digital responsibility Platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, where visibility and notoriety often attract engagement, are identified as the most common spaces where technology-facilitated gender-based violence occurs. RWAMREC warns that “any platform that monetises attention or followers creates conditions ripe for online abuse.” During the dialogue, Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) spokesperson Thierry Murangira noted that there are several forms of social media abuse, including body shaming, character assassination, online secondary victimisation, and glorification of gender-based violence, which are not yet recognised by law as crimes, even though they are common and should be formally addressed to ensure prevention and accountability. “Most of these practices promote social media abuse, such as spreading scandals under the excuse that it ‘sells,’ giving people justification to harass and victimise their colleagues,” he explained. “We urge social media users to practice responsible digital citizenship. Social platforms are not meant to promote any form of inhumanity. While we acknowledge that some people act heartlessly, they need awareness, and if they continue to misuse these platforms, the law will be applied,” he said. Rose Rwabuhihi from Inspire Impact Hub emphasised the call for collective responsibility, noting that technology should empower, not endanger. “We’re encouraging people to use social media responsibly and effectively. Our goal is not to punish abusers but to prevent such behaviour,” she said. “Yes, we acknowledge the existence of catfish accounts, but that does not give anyone the right to misuse freedom of expression. You cannot claim it’s your right while using it to attack others,” she added.
