Gender-Based Violence and Mental Health: Breaking the Silence During the 16 Days of Activism
Violence against women and girls is not only a violation of human rights it is a public health crisis with deep psychological scars.
The 2025 global theme, led by UN Women, calls on all of us to “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.” This theme highlights a growing and urgent reality: violence has evolved beyond physical spaces. Today, digital platforms, once seen as tools for empowerment, have also become spaces where women and girls face harassment, abuse, and psychological harm.
Digital violence, whether through cyberbullying, online stalking, non-consensual image sharing, or hate speech, leaves invisible scars that mirror those of physical abuse. The emotional toll is immense, fuelling anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.
Research published in Frontiers in Sociology (2025) highlights that gender-based violence (GBV) in all its forms is not only a social or legal issue, but it is also a mental health crisis. Survivors face significantly higher risks of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. The psychological effects often persist long after the abuse ends, shaping how survivors see themselves and how they engage with the world around them.
Globally, the World Health Organisation estimates that nearly 1 in 3 women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. As digital access expands, online spaces are becoming new frontiers for gendered harm, especially for young women, activists, and professionals who use digital platforms to express themselves or advocate for change.
Limited access to mental health care and the stigma surrounding both GBV and mental illness deepen the silence. Survivors of digital and physical violence often carry their trauma alone, fearing disbelief or further victimisation.
At AMARI, we believe ending gender-based violence online or offline requires a holistic approach that includes mental health support, digital safety, and community awareness. By investing in mental health systems and empowering communities to respond compassionately, we can create safer spaces, both physical and digital, for women and girls.
Together, let’s UNiTE to End Digital Violence and ensure that every woman and girl can live, work, and express herself free from fear, online and offline.