GBV – CYBER HARASSEMENT_ENG_Version_APPLEPRORES422HQ.mov – Google Drive
The digital world holds incredible power to connect, empower, and amplify voices, but for many women and girls, it has also become a space of intimidation, harassment, and abuse.
Technology facilitated Gender-Based Violence is one of the fastest-growing forms of violence against women globally. It silences voices, spreads fear and reinforces inequality.
In Lebanon, cases of online blackmail and harassment against women have increased sharply since 2020.
Violence online is real — and it’s growing.
The Numbers Speak Loudly
In Lebanon, no fewer than 300 cases of cyber violence are reported every month and that’s just what’s documented.
80% of victims are women and girls and most are just teenagers, between 12 and 20 years old.
Only 12% of victims report digital violence and most cases are not taken seriously by authorities.
In Lebanon, online violence against women continues unchecked. According to Internal Security Forces (ISF) data:
In 2022, there were 2,541 reports of online violence — but only 82 perpetrators were detained on charges of committing online crimes against women.
In 2023, reports increased to 3,133, while arrests dropped to just 71.
Thousands of women spoke up — but justice stayed silent.
Fear, shame, and lack of trust in protection mechanisms keep many women from seeking help. When systems don’t protect, silence becomes survival.
78% of women affected by cyber violence suffer from anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
20% experience real-life harm as a result of online violence. Digital violence starts online, but it ends in real life.
Online gender-based violence isn’t virtual. It’s a real attack on safety, dignity, and equality. Every abusive message, threat, or leak leaves scars that last long after the screen goes dark.
Brief Summary: Draft Law on Protecting Women and Girls from Cyber Violence
The Draft Law on Protecting Women and Girls from Cyber Violence, prepared by FEMALE feminist collective, represents a crucial and long-overdue step in Lebanon toward addressing the sharp rise in digital violence targeting women and girls.
Lebanon currently lacks a clear definition or comprehensive legislation that criminalizes gender-based online violence. The proposed law aims to fill this gap by establishing a national legal framework to protect women and girls from various forms of cyber abuse.
The law criminalizes a broad range of acts that constitute online gender-based violence, including but not restricted to:
Online blackmail, such as threats to publish private photos or information;
Digital defamation and cyberbullying through offensive or humiliating content;
Online stalking or surveillance, including the use of spyware or tracking devices;
Non-consensual sharing of private images or videos;
Hacking of personal accounts and data theft;
Incitement to hatred or violence against women.
These are recognized not merely as digital offenses but as serious violations of privacy, dignity, and human rights, with long-term psychological and social impacts.
Importantly, the law does not restrict internet freedom, but rather seeks to balance freedom of expression with responsibility. It affirms that digital freedom must go hand in hand with legal accountability. The goal is to create a safe digital environment that respects human dignity and allows free expression without fear or intimidation.
Beyond criminalization, the law introduces practical protection measures for survivors, including:
Confidential and secure reporting channels;
Fast-track judicial procedures to remove abusive content;
Psychological, social, and legal support for survivors;
Enhanced law enforcement response, addressing the current low rate of arrests.
The draft law goes beyond individual protection, it enshrines the principles of digital justice and equality, in line with Lebanon’s international obligations such as CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women). By strengthening accountability and awareness, it contributes to building a culture of respect, safety, and responsible digital citizenship for all.
Between Screens and Scars: Hear from the Survivors
“He said he loved me, so I thought it was normal when he asked for my passwords. Then he started checking my messages, deleting my friends, turning on my location without asking. When I tried to end it, he showed me screenshots of my private chats. He always knew where I was. I thought technology was my escape until it became his way of keeping me trapped.”
Tania, 17 years, survivor of Tech-Enabled Intimate Partner Surveillance
“He said if I left him, he’d share my pictures. I begged. I cried. For months, I lived in panic, checking my phone every minute, afraid my life would collapse with one click. It wasn’t just about the photos, it was about control. About how easily one person can hold your reputation hostage in a society that blames the woman, never the abuser.”
Sara, 29 years, survivor of digital blackmailing
“He used to comment on every post. Then he started messaging me constantly, even after I blocked him. New accounts kept appearing; same words, same threats. I began checking behind me when I walked home. He wasn’t just online anymore, he was in my mind. That’s what digital stalking does: it makes the world feel smaller, darker, and unsafe.”
Zahraa, 33 years, survivor of online stalking
“When I spoke out about sexual harassment, they flooded my inbox with hate. ‘You wanted attention,’ they said. ‘You deserve what happened.’
Some shared my photo with disgusting captions. Others called me a liar. I wanted to fight back, but every word I wrote was twisted against me. I learned that in Lebanon, speaking up as a woman can turn courage into a crime.”
Lana, 37 years, survivor of digital bullying and shaming
About FEMALE:
FEMALE is a community based non-profit grassroot feminist organization that works towards a just and safe world for women and girls in all their diversities through driving social-behavioral changes, movement building, knowledge production and dissemination, and policy reform.
To Report Incidents of Cyber Violence and Access Psycho-Social and Legal Assistance
Call FEMALE’s Helpline: 81111456
The Real Block is Legal Action!
Join the Movement, Make the Difference
Demand that Lebanese Parliament pass FEMALE’s Draft Law to protect women and girls from cyber violence — real safety starts with real laws.
Call out online abuse when you see it — silence enables violence.
Support survivors — believe them, stand with them, share their stories.
Use your platform — post, speak, and spread the message
#TheLegalBlock
#البلوك_القانوني