Cyber harassment and threats Targeting human rights defenders can extend to any space they occupy physically and with a digital presence. Cyber harassment and threats can widen the base of threats in, for example, cases when public calls and messages against HRDs are shared widely, exacerbating insecurity by increasing the unpredictability in potential perpetrators. Women and LGBTQ+ persons are especially vulnerable to cyber harassment and threats, and in 2018 the former UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, made a statement outlining common experiences of WHRDs. These experiences are relevant to all HRDs but especially for WHRDs. He stated, “Death threats, threats of sexual and gender-based violence, and online defamation and disinformation campaigns – often of a sexualized nature, and often including the victim’s real-life addresses – are used to torment and terrorize [human rights defenders] who speak out.” The consequences are and have been extreme and in many cases, fatal. Thus, this side of digital security
should be considered with much weight and as part of an overall risk assessment. The steps and recommendations discussed above can help reduce exposure to such risks, however, they are just a start of the more in-depth conversations needed on creating and maintaining a safe digital presence and engaging with social media channels.14 Such critical considerations must also extend to beneficiaries, volunteers, etc. Sharing photos, quotes, and other content should be done so with full consent from those featured – beneficiaries, colleagues, volunteers, etc.
The damage to victims’ right to privacy, to freedom of expression, and to full participation in economic, social, cultural and political affairs is evident. These forms of intimidation and violence may also cripple the work of women’s networks, which often use online platforms as their key form of communication and mobilization. - Former UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
14 https://bit.ly/3aa58us
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