Kolkata: To mark the beginning of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, Swayam organized a panel discussion and released two short awareness films on Gender-Based Online Violence at the Kolkata Press Club today. The event aimed to deepen public understanding of the growing digital threats faced by women, girls, and queer individuals, and to inspire collective action toward safer online spaces.
Observed annually from 25th November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10th December (Human Rights Day), the 16-day campaign emphasizes that violence against women is not only a gender issue but a human rights violation.
This year, Swayam placed a spotlight on online gender-based violence—a rapidly escalating concern in the digital age. From cyberstalking, trolling, impersonation, and morphing to the non-consensual circulation of intimate images, such forms of abuse serve as tools of intimidation and monitoring. The organization emphasized that this violence silences women’s digital participation, reinforces discrimination, and extends patriarchal control into virtual spaces.
Experts at the event noted that online harassment is not an isolated phenomenon but part of wider systemic gender inequality. The persistence of such abuse—particularly affecting young women and queer individuals—reveals how online platforms often mirror, and sometimes intensify, the social control and harassment women face offline.
The programme featured a panel of distinguished speakers, including:
- Amrita Dasgupta – Director, Swayam
- Kaushik Gupta – Lawyer, Calcutta High Court
- Shamayita Chakraborty – Journalist, Deutsche Welle
- Agnijit Sen – RJ & Digital Content Creator
- Suvankar Chakraborty – OC, Cyber Cell & Monitoring Cell, South Division
The discussion was moderated by Anuradha Kapoor, Founder and Trust Board Member of Swayam.
Following the discussion, two short awareness films—created by Swayam in collaboration with Ogilvy—were screened. A representative from Ogilvy shared insights into the creative process and intentions behind the campaign films.
Speaking at the event, Swayam reiterated the importance of recognizing online gender-based violence as a structural social issue rather than a mere outcome of technology misuse. The initiative calls for strengthening legal responses, increasing digital empathy, and fostering community accountability to ensure that the internet becomes a space of empowerment, not fear.
Through this campaign, Swayam hopes to trigger meaningful conversations, encourage responsible digital citizenship, and promote a safer and more equitable virtual environment for all.
