Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Unite Against Digital Violence Targeting Women
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – More than 50 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from across Ethiopia have joined forces to address the rising threat of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), a form of online abuse that disproportionately affects women and girls.
The organizations convened at the Hilton Addis Hotel for a national conference organized by Search for Common Ground and ELiDA Ethiopia, in collaboration with the Union of Ethiopian Women and Children Associations (UEWCA) and supported by Global Affairs Canada through Canada’s International Development program.
The conference aimed to strengthen coordination among Ethiopian CSOs in tackling digital gender-based violence and promoting safer online spaces. As part of the outcome, participants agreed to establish a TFGBV Network under the UEWCA umbrella. A nine-member committee will lead the network’s efforts in advocacy, policy engagement, and collaborative action across the country.
During the event, the CSOs signed the Hilton Declaration, a collective pledge to combat online hate speech, misinformation, and harmful digital content targeting women and girls. The declaration emphasized a shared commitment to reject, challenge, and prevent any form of online or offline violence that undermines the dignity of women and girls.
“We will not participate in, support, or ignore any form of hate speech or misinformation that belittles women and girls. We commit to countering harmful narratives and advocating for stronger protections,” the declaration stated.
The initiative forms part of a broader program titled “Increasing Resilience to Online and Offline Violence in Ethiopia,” which seeks to promote digital peace, inclusion, and gender equality.
By endorsing the declaration, Ethiopia’s civil society organizations reaffirmed their role in fostering a safer digital environment one that ensures the security, respect, and participation of women and girls in the country’s digital landscape.
