VIEW FROM THE COMMONWEALTH WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS (CWP) CHAIRPERSON
CYBER HARASSMENT AGAINST WOMEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA View from the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Chairperson Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and view to discrediting them and/or inciting other violations BlogSpot are some of the social media platforms and abuses against them, are a growing concern and that have, to a certain extent, impacted women’s can be a manifestation of systemic gender-based life. The Malaysian Communications and discrimination, requiring effective responses compliant Multimedia Commission reported that there were with human rights.” approximately 41% female internet users in 2018. The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Acknowledging the advancement of technology, Equality (FEMM) of the European Parliament have women have benefitted from social media adopted a draft report proposing measures to combat platforms as they create opportunities for them. mobbing and sexual harassment, including online acts. Nevertheless, social media has also been used to The move forges alliances in international, as well as harass women and girls. national, laws in addressing these issues together. The term cyber harassment is normally used to Within ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Hon. Dr Dato’ Noraini Ahmad, describe types of behaviour which include acts to Nations), the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion MP, Chairperson of the annoy, threaten, insult, exhibit malicious intent, post Commonwealth Women and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children inappropriate comments, display offensive images Parliamentarians (CWP) and (ACWC) has also proposed reviewing legislation and and cause a scare to a person. Such behaviours Member of the Parliament of legal enforcement on eliminating violence against have tendencies to encourage aggression against Malaysia. women which includes cyber violence. Taking women on social media. Cyber harassment has Singapore as an example, the nation has passed the been reported to affect women’s wellbeing and women are likely Protection from Harassment Act in 2014. The Act covers a range of to suffer twice as much harassment than men. Women also suffer self-help measures, civil remedies and criminal sanctions in protecting from mental health issues such as anxiety, trauma and depression women from harassment which includes cyberbullying. that can be linked to increasing social media use. The Malaysian Although Malaysia has no legal definition that relates to cyber Communications and Multimedia Commission reported 356 cases harassment, Malaysia has nonetheless taken various initiatives in related to mental health issues in 2018. tackling this issue. Malaysia through the Malaysian Communications There is an urgency to protect and secure women and girls’ welland Multimedia Commission has implemented certain authoritative being in this country. As such, there is a need to create awareness measures to prohibit content that is indecent, obscene, false, menacing of gender equality and women’s empowerment. In addressing the or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass issue of cyber harassment in Malaysia, an analytical strategy has to be any person as stated under Section 211 of the Communications and initiated to streamline a legal framework that supports women’s wellMultimedia Act, 1998. being legally. Along with the implementation of this regulation, Malaysia also calls for public awareness. There is a moral obligation that parents and Strategies in preventing cyber harassment against women teachers are urged to monitor and to manage the usage of the internet on social media among children. Malaysia encourages industry players and other At the international level, the United Nations (UN) and European Union professionals, especially those related to ICT, to exercise the utmost (EU) have also addressed and recognised issues related to cyber responsibility in relation to online content. harassment. The legislation, regulations and resolutions by these two The involvement by a non-governmental organisation in highlighting organisations were drawn up to protect and give security to women and cyber harassment in Malaysia is highly welcomed. Thus, the People girls on the internet. The UN General Assembly’s resolution on protecting Against Cyber Threats and Harassment (PeopleACT), an initiative women human rights defenders (2013) states that “Information by the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights Technology-related violations, abuses, discrimination and violence (MCCHR), has launched a campaign to increase public awareness on against women, including women human rights defenders, such as online cyber harassment and cyberbullying. harassment, cyberstalking, violation of privacy, censorship and the hacking of email accounts, mobile phones and other electronic devices, with a 8 | The Parliamentarian | 2019: Issue One | 100th year of publishing