African women still fighting violence 30 years after the Beijing Declaration
The United Nations has raised the alarm about a new wave of violence against women and girls carried out online, warning that the digital world must not become another arena of abuse.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated this in a statement on Tuesday, November 25, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls.
November 25 is a day dedicated to shining a light on issues about Violence Against Women, one of humanity’s oldest and deadliest injustices.
This year, the United Nations drew global attention to a new front in this fight: online violence against women and girls.
“We cannot allow digital spaces to be yet another place where women and girls are unsafe,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement marking the day.
The event also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and the 25th anniversary of the UN Security Council resolution on Peace. Even as global leaders celebrate these milestones, the data on cases of violence against women and insecurity tell a sobering story.
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Across sub-Saharan Africa, more than 79 million girls and women have suffered rape or sexual assault as children, according to UNICEF. The threat is deeply rooted, amplified by conflict, social inequality, and gaps in legal protection.
In conflict zones, the vulnerability of women and girls reaches terrifying extremes. In El-Fasher, Sudan, reports from women fleeing the city reveal killings, systematic rape, and the disappearance of children after the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, captured the area last month. These accounts are harrowing reminders that in times of war, women are often deliberately targeted, their suffering both a consequence and a weapon of conflict.
Similarly, instability across parts of the Sahel and Central Africa fuels an environment where impunity thrives, and girls as young as 12 live under constant threat of sexual violence. The UN warns that without robust legal frameworks and protection mechanisms, progress will remain painfully slow.
In South Africa, outrage over gender-based violence erupted on the streets just last week, ahead of the G20 Summit. With a femicide rate five times higher than the global average, the country’s women mobilised to demand immediate government action. Responding, the South African government declared gender-based violence a national disaster, a legal and political move that compels authorities to allocate resources and intensify measures to protect women.
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Meanwhile, at the regional level, the African Union has sought to establish a legally binding framework. In February 2025, the AU adopted the Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, requiring member states to enact policies, enforce laws, and protect survivors. But progress remains slow: only Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Liberia, and The Gambia had signed the convention as of July 2025, leaving vast regions without a binding commitment.
The 2025 theme highlights an emerging threat: the digital space. Across Africa, social media, messaging apps, and online forums have become venues for harassment, abuse, and exploitation. Cyberbullying, revenge porn, and online grooming are on the rise, particularly affecting teenagers and young women, and the UN warns that without digital safety laws and enforcement, the internet risks becoming as dangerous as conflict zones or unsafe streets.
Despite decades of global attention and milestones, the lived reality for African women remains grim. From the crowded townships of Johannesburg to the conflict-ravaged streets of Sudan, from rural villages to digital platforms, the struggle is continuous, multi-layered, and urgent.
“Three decades after Beijing, and 25 years since the UN Security Council resolution, African women continue to fight a battle that the world cannot afford to ignore,” activists say.
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This International Day is more than a symbolic observance. It is a call to action for governments, communities, and digital platforms to enforce protection, ensure justice, and allocate resources. Without immediate and sustained intervention, millions of women and girls will continue to suffer in silence, both online and offline.
In 2025, the question remains: will the world finally transform decades of awareness into concrete, life-saving action?
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
