UN issues alert on risk of digital violence against women and LGBTIQ+ in Myanmar

Mizzima

On 25 November, the United Nations in Myanmar issued a statement for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, noting that digital platforms have become major avenues for gender-based violence, including non-consensual image sharing, disinformation, and AI-generated deepfakes targeting women, girls, and LGBTIQ+ individuals.

The statement is as follows.

Digital platforms have provided new possibilities for women, girls and LGBTIQ+ individuals in Myanmar, but they have also created new avenues for gendered abuse, including non-consensual image sharing, disinformation and AI-generated deepfakes designed to humiliate, intimidate and silence. These forms of online harm have detrimental impacts in real life, such as coercion, physical violence, economic loss, social exclusion and profound mental health impacts, and they must be recognized as gender-based violence.

As the world marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and begins the 16 Days of Activism, the United Nations in Myanmar aligns with the global theme: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.”

We reaffirm our condemnation of all forms of gender-based violence and our commitment to support all women, girls and LGBTIQ+ individuals who are victims of online violence, as well as all those women-led organizations that continue to provide life-saving support.

Myanmar’s compounded crises continue to heighten risks of violence and strain already limited protection systems. Digital abuse adds another layer of harm, and deep digital inequalities intensify these risks. Today, nearly 10.4 million women, girls and LGBTIQ+ individuals in Myanmar remain in humanitarian need, and nearly half of female-headed households lack stable phone or internet access. Limited connectivity, internet shutdowns, data insecurity and digital literacy across urban, rural and conflict-affected areas, expose women, girls and LGBTIQ+ individuals to scams, harassment, trafficking and exploitation, while restricting access to credible information and support.