No Woman Left Behind: Ending Digital Violence Against Women and Girls with Disabilities

About the authors: Shubha Nagesh, MBBS, MHA, MPH, and Mildred Omino, MPA, are Senior Fellows with the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity. The opinions expressed are their own.

Since November 25th, advocates around the world have been participating in the United Nations’ annual 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence. This year’s theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” focuses on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). 

Digital tools have transformed how people learn, work, and connect. Yet this transformation has simultaneously created opportunities for harm. TFGBV includes a wide spectrum of abuse, such as the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and private information, stalking, impersonation, harassment, and hate speech. Up to 60 percent of women have experienced some type of TFGBV. The rapid spread of artificial intelligence has intensified these threats; more than 90 percent of individuals targeted with AI-generated “deepfake” sexual images are women. 

While TFGBV affects women globally, women and girls with disabilities are disproportionately targeted. Many already encounter stigma, discrimination, and limited access to education, employment, and healthcare. Digital spaces, once seen as tools for inclusion, often replicate or intensify these barriers. A Canadian study found that young women with moderate or severe disabilities had a threefold higher rate of TFGBV compared to their non-disabled peers. For those who rely on screen readers, mobility applications, or other digital tools for autonomy, online abuse can restrict independence and erode trust in the technologies that support daily living.

TFGBV directed at women with disabilities often exploits the social conditions that they navigate. Many face mockery of appearance or speech, harassment while using assistive devices, or sexualized abuse intended to intimidate and silence them. Others are manipulated through scams or extortion that prey on isolation or vulnerability. The resulting psychological distress, reputational damage, and reinforced social exclusion can persist for years, because digital content is not easily erased.

Despite its prevalence, few laws and policies address TFGBV. Only 30% of countries recognize online abuse as a criminal offense. Reporting mechanisms are frequently inaccessible to women with disabilities, often lacking essential features such as screen-reader compatibility, captioning, and sign-language interpretation. Technology companies rarely offer transparent or effective redress systems. Algorithms that reward viral content may amplify humiliating or degrading material involving women with disabilities, benefiting platforms and influencers at their expense.

As advocates for women with disabilities in India and Kenya, we have seen these challenges in our home countries. India, home to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing digital populations, faces significant gaps in online protection. Women and girls with disabilities are up to ten times more likely to experience violence. Research from the organization Equality Now documents how online abuse mirrors entrenched social inequalities for these women. Although India’s Information Technology Rules mandate the removal of non-consensual intimate images within 24 hours, accessibility barriers and inconsistent enforcement mean these protections often do not benefit women with disabilities.

Kenya, one of Africa’s fastest-growing digital economies, faces similar challenges. Nearly 90% of students in tertiary institutions in Nairobi report experiences of TFGBV. Recent incidents viral TikTok challenge mocking a prominent figure for facial differences caused by disability, demonstrate how digital platforms can magnify harm and retraumatize survivors long after the initial incident. Kenya  has recently passed   laws designed to protect consumers from abuse. However, despite this progress, digital governance implementation remains a challenge often ignoring the lived experiences of women with disabilities.

There are signs of progress. In 2024, the Global Digital Compact set the first UN-wide standards for digital safety and responsible AI and the UN Cybercrime Convention created a legal framework for online abuse. The UN General Assembly also urged governments to prevent and punish digital violence against women and girls. These are important steps, but global commitments must translate into action that fully includes women with disabilities in policy design, monitoring, and enforcement. Accessibility and inclusion cannot be afterthoughts.

The UNiTE 2025 campaign calls for coordinated efforts across sectors. Governments must strengthen laws that criminalize digital violence and ensure accessible systems for reporting harm. Technology companies must design safer platforms, respond rapidly to abuse, and increase transparency about how cases are handled. Donors should invest in initiatives led by women and persons with disabilities working on digital rights and safety. 

During this year’s 16 Days of Activism, we can all act. Advocating for strong digital protections, supporting survivor-led organizations, and sharing information about digital inclusion all contribute to safer online environments. Even simple acts, such as wearing the color orange, the symbol of a future free from violence, raise visibility and solidarity.

Ending TFGBV is a matter of justice, dignity, and human rights. As we mark this year’s campaign, we must commit to building a digital world where every woman and girl can live, speak, and thrive safely. Technology should be used to promote equity for women with disabilities, rather than fostering harm.