NECWA RAHIM

Algeria-  Lina Farah Cheboub founded Tomorrow is a Better Day (TBD Algeria) in 2020 to combat sexual harassment and abuse against women and children on social media platforms since the number of victims of online violence is on rise in Algeria.

“I founded the platform to combat all forms of violence against women and girls, especially sexual and online violence. The aim of the platform is to raise awareness among women and children about the potential online risks and threats to women and children,” said Lina Farah Cheboub.

‘Silence encourages the perpetrators’

In Algeria, sexual harassment and sexual violence are normalized by its patriarchal society. “Victims of sexual assault remain silent because they are afraid that we will be blamed for being sexually assaulted or raped,” said Lina Farah Cheboub. In Algeria, the law allows rapists to escape prosecution by marrying the victims of rape. “The victims of rape remain silent because the perpetrators receive no penalties. There is a silence against sexual assault in Algerian society and this silence encourages the perpetrators of sexual assault. Many women are sexually abused in public spaces and online every day.”

Online campaign

The TBD Algeria is an online platform aiming to raise awareness among women and girls about the online risks. Last year, the platform launched an online campaign called, “Expose Harassers”. “After we launched the campaign, many users of social media platforms supported the campaign by posting videos documenting sexual harassment and abuse against them in public spaces, at workplaces and schools. We believe that exposing the harassers and abusers is the most appropriate solution to deter them and end the silence.”

The TBD Algeria also provides psychological and legal support to survivors of all forms of violence against women. “The platform has psychologists and lawyers to support the survivors of violence. We raise awareness among many women and girls, and encourage them to report attacks and expose harassers and abusers.”

Last year, more than 200 survivors of violence applied to the platform to receive support. Lina Farah Cheboub was also subjected to a smear campaign and online blackmail and she began legal action against the perpetrators. “A group of people shared fake photos of me and accused me of prostitution because I exposed many harassers and abusers online.”