Digital Violence Is Real Violence - UN Albania Urges Stronger Protections for All Women and Girls

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the United Nations in Albania, together with government institutions, civil society partners, young activists, and citizens across the country, launched the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, under the global theme “End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”

Digital violence is rising, fueled by AI-generated abuse, anonymous online activity, and gaps in legal protection. Data from UN Women reveals that 41% of women aged 18+ in Albania have experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated violence, with young and educated women (18–24) at highest risk. Over the last three years, 58% of online abuse victims were women, with cyberstalking, online extortion, and hate speech having profound consequences on their health, emotional safety and social life.

UN Albania warns that online abuse, threats, and harassment have tangible, harmful consequences for women and girls, and require the same level of protection, prevention, and accountability as offline violence, because sexist and misogynous hate online can escalate into hate crime offline. The current review of the national law on domestic violence provides a key opportunity to fully align Albania’s legal framework with EU law on violence against women, including through specific provisions to counter and prevent cybercrimes.

Gender-based violence, online and offline, remains one of Albania’s most urgent human rights challenges. More than one in two women and girls in the country have experienced one or more forms of violence during their lifetime. Between 2021 and 2024, 27 women were murdered by their intimate partner or family member.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Evis Sala, underlined the shared responsibility to protect women and girls in all spaces:

“Preventing and responding to violence against women and girls—including in digital spaces—requires clear policies, strong institutions, and collective will. Albania’s commitment is unequivocal: we will strengthen legislation, reinforce accountability, and expand protection systems so that every woman and girl in Albania can live, speak, and participate freely and safely. Investing in their safety is not optional; it is a national priority and a measure of our democracy”.

Ingrid Macdonald, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Albania, at the launch of the campaign highlighted:

“As we observe the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we confront a stark and urgent reality: digital violence is rising at an alarming pace. In Albania, 41% of women have faced online abuse, and globally 1.8 billion women remain without legal protection. Every woman and girl deserves safety, dignity, and the freedom to live without violence in all parts of her life — online and offline. While these 16 days shine a vital light on the issue, our fight cannot end when the campaign does. Ending digital violence is urgent, non-negotiable, and must guide our actions every single day.”

UN Agencies in Albania, under the Joint Programme on Ending Violence Against Women in partnership with the Government of Sweden, continue to strengthen prevention, service provision, and coordinated response systems.

This year, Albania marks the campaign with large-scale engagement efforts aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing communities to act. Educational activities, youth-led events, school initiatives, community forums, and artistic performances will take place across the country to challenge harmful norms and promote a culture of safety and respect online and offline.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in Albania

The “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” opened with a ceremony led by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, UN agencies and international partners, honoring frontline professionals, activists, and members of institutions who everyday work to keep women and girls safe and to help survivors rebuild their lives.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign led by UN Women under the UNiTE to End Violence against Women initiative. It runs each year from 25 November to 10 December, connecting the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Human Rights Day.

In 2025, the campaign focuses on ending digital violence against all women and girls, one of the fastest-evolving forms of abuse worldwide. Digital violence includes online harassment, stalking, gendered disinformation, deepfakes, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, all of which are rising sharply as technology advances.

The 2025 UNiTE campaign calls on governments, technology companies, and communities to act now to strengthen laws, end impunity, and hold platforms accountable. It urges sustained investment in prevention, digital literacy, and survivor-centred services. It also calls for long-term support to women’s rights organizations that are leading efforts to make digital spaces safe and inclusive for all.

Read the Albanian version.