Zohour Al-Mashriqi

Tunis — Campaign coordinator Hajar Ben Nasser confirmed that Law No. 58 provides women with the necessary protection, stressing the importance of breaking the barrier of fear and silence, and reporting digital violence, which is considered a punishable crime.

On Monday, December 1, the “Equality and Women’s Rights” Front launched its awareness campaign “Take Your Right” to introduce the legal guarantees that allow women access to justice and to put an end to the violence they face in digital and virtual spaces. The campaign focuses on explaining these guarantees, legal procedures, and the services ensured under Law No. 58, including legal aid and protection.

The campaign emphasizes the need to break the barrier of fear and silence, and highlights the importance of reporting, as digital violence is characterized by its rapid spread and permanence. Therefore, victims must insist on their right to pursue the perpetrator so they can become survivors rather than victims.

 

“Four out of every five women are subjected to violence”

Ben Nasser stated that this initiative, part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, aims to raise awareness about the dangers of violence in digital spaces and on social media platforms. She noted that this year’s campaign builds on the 2024 campaign “Not Your Right,” which addressed perpetrators, while this year's campaign “Take Your Right” speaks directly to victims, encouraging them to break their silence and report this form of violence, which can easily spill into the public sphere.

She explained that the campaign is based on a legal study examining the laws that allow women to prosecute abusers and file complaints when subjected to digital violence. The study concluded that Law No. 58 of 2017 on combating violence against women is capable of delivering justice and can be relied upon to track perpetrators.

The study also found that four out of every five women are exposed to violence on virtual platforms, such as harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, and violations of personal data, in addition to insults, slander, and defamation. This has serious consequences on women’s lives and their psychological and physical health, as digital violence may extend into the physical world, causing social isolation, preventing victims from living normal lives, and in some cases pushing women toward suicidal thoughts.

Ben Nasser added that the campaign primarily targets young women, as they are the most frequent users of social media. She emphasized that the campaign is not limited to the digital space but also extends to universities and youth centers, moving across different regions to raise awareness and provide support to victims.

She stressed that the most important step in confronting this type of violence is breaking the barrier of fear and silence and reporting the abuse. Victims must document violations by keeping audio recordings or capturing comments and messages containing insults or harassment, then presenting them to a bailiff. After that, they can head to any specialized unit for combating violence against women within security centers to prosecute the perpetrator. She reinforced that Law No. 58 ensures the necessary protection and justice for women.

In conclusion, Ben Nasser emphasized that women’s freedom of expression and publishing on social media is a right that no one may confiscate or control. Every woman has the right to be present in the digital space in whatever way she chooses. “Any form of violence committed against her is a crime punishable by law without leniency or dismissal,” she added, urging victims to prosecute offenders confidently and without fear or hesitation