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The Diplomat
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Retreating Is Not Safety: How Cambodia Drives Women Out of Civic Spaces
In Cambodia, survivors of digital violence are increasingly disengaging from digital platforms or stepping down from leadership in women-led organizations. This retreat from civic space is not a side effect; it is the intended result of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) against women journalists and human rights defenders. Treating this 'exit from civic space' as a form of safety only reinforces its strategy. This is the key finding in Asia Centre's baseline study, 'Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Cambodia: Impact on the Civic Freedoms of Women Journalists and Human Rights Defenders.' Published on May 20, 2025, the 35-page report incorporated, on the condition of anonymity, the views of 12 women engaged in public advocacy. It sheds light on patriarchal social structures in Cambodia that collectively contribute to the persistence of TFGBV in the country. The alarming shift in the Cambodian digital sphere, where visibility has become a vulnerability, points to the urgent need for policymakers, civil society, and the public to take remedial action. The severity of TFGBV in the country surpasses the ability of Cambodian legal frameworks to address the fast-evolving nature of digital violence. One informant shared that women in general are reluctant to report such incidents to justice institutions, because 'many interviews (with authorities) contain victim-blaming… discouraging survivors from coming forward.' With Cambodia ranking 141st out of 142 countries in World Justice Project's 2023 Rule of Law Index, it points to a loss of faith in the justice system, especially when it comes to the protection of women facing online harms. Hence, retreating from the public sphere has become the only remaining exit to safety for women engaged in advocacy. As such, in Cambodia, TFGBV methodically dismantles women's participation in public discourse, sowing fear in the back of their minds, 'affecting [their] confidence and [making] reporting (such incidents to authorities) much more stressful.' But the psychological harm inflicted on TFGBV survivors is not limited to personal concerns. Their systemic silencing paves the way for a culture of impunity, where public accountability wanes, investigative journalism suffers, and the truth becomes increasingly difficult to reach. In fact, the whole of Cambodian society self-censors 'difficult' issues, resulting in online harassment faced by women left largely unspoken. In Cambodia, the defensive response of withdrawing from the public sphere only concedes power to the perpetrator, further entrenching structural inequality. To protect the right to participate, survivor-centered strategies must become the reality. That means developing legal frameworks that go beyond punishment by also providing meaningful protection and digital resilience. Law enforcement, civil society, tech companies, and media must be equipped to respond not just to the violence that has already occurred, but to the new threats on the horizon. Considering the current prevalence of TFGBV in Cambodia, the region needs to be on the lookout for the growing role of AI in amplifying the issue. The risk is not limited to bots or misinformation. As a 2023 UNESCO report noted, it's also about enhanced surveillance of women's online activity, highly realistic deepfakes, and simulated harassment campaigns designed to discredit, deceive, and destroy. Survivors cannot face these evolving harms alone, and they shouldn't have to. Collective action is urgent, but it won't happen unless the right solutions are put in place. For starters, the Cambodian government needs to introduce targeted legislation that defines, criminalizes, and addresses TFGBV, drawing from international standards. These laws must be enforceable and prevented from misuse. Law enforcement officers and judges need training that bridges gender justice with digital literacy. Civil society must be resourced not only to support survivors but to keep pressure on policymakers. And technology companies that are unregulated or diluting fact-checking must be held accountable for content moderation in local contexts, with real transparency around post takedowns and complaints. That is why more evidence-based research on emerging TFGBV trends in the region and beyond is crucial. Regular capacity-building across all sectors – from judges and police officers to teachers and journalists is also needed. Awareness is the first defense, but it must be backed by legal protections, support mechanisms, and digital literacy tools that equip survivors and potential targets to respond. Even deeper than this, cultural narratives must be reframed. In a society where power imbalances are masked as 'cultural harmony,' women using digital tools to amplify their voices are not seen as participants in public discourse but as disruptors. As a representative of a female-led organization said, 'Any mistake that happens, we tend to receive a lot of attacks without any specific evidence.' With these norms framing civic expression, digital tools are distorted into weapons of punishment. As long as public morality is a shield for gender control, laws alone will fail. Cambodia must shift from tolerating online misogyny to a zero-tolerance standard, where the cost of digital violence is borne by the perpetrator, not the survivor. Safety cannot be granted through silence. The true value of any digital society is whether women can speak, lead, and exist online without being punished for it. If 'exit from civic space' becomes the only protection available, then TFGBV has already won. The future demands that we remain vigilant and act together, not react alone. This op-ed is based on Asia Centre's report, 'Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Cambodia: Impact on the Civic Freedoms of Women Journalists and Human Rights Defenders' Download the full report here. For more information about the Asia Centre, visit
Irish Independent
30-05-2025
- Irish Independent
DkIT goes purple to raise awareness of Domestic Violence
The event was hosted by the RiVeR Project in DkIT in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, Dundalk and DkIT's Students Union. It was fantastic to have representatives from the Dundalk Gardaí on campus to highlight the importance of raising awareness around this issue. DkIT has a strong reputation in supporting awareness around Domestic Abuse. The DkIT RiVeR Project is responding to the impacts of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence through research, education and training. The RiVeR Project Lead Dr. Kathleen Nallen said 'The RiVeR Project is delighted to partner with RESPECT #DkIT, students union DkIT and An Garda Síochána for the annual 'Go Purple Day' to create awareness of Domestic Abuse. It is wonderful to have such support from staff and students across the campus for this really important initiative. In promoting the agenda of zero tolerance of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the RiVeR Project recently launched its 'Insights into Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence' Podcast series. It features conversations with experts, advocates and victim/survivors of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and is available on the RiVeR Project website and LinkedIn page, DkIT YouTube channel and Spotify'. DkIT is committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment for everyone in their educational community, they endeavour to do this through ongoing training and support around Gender Based Violence that empowers all their students and staff. In November, DkIT was one of the 16 Higher Education Institutes involved in an annual national campaign for the international UN 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. During last year's 16 Days of activity, DkIT was also pleased to publish their Domestic Violence leave Policy for all employees.
