HANAN HARET

Morocco- Online violence against women and girls has recently escalated all around the world. This form of violence can be as harmful as physical violence, and can result in stress, trauma, anxiety, sleep disorders and depression.

Shaima Ablaq, a Moroccan psychologist and member of the Tahadi Association for Equality and Citizenship, thinks that the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is an opportunity to raise awareness against online violence.

In March 2023, Morocco’s High Commission for Planning (HCP) announced that nearly 1.5 million women had experienced online violence in the country.

The Tahadi Association for Equality and Citizenship has carried out awareness-raising activities against online violence in Morocco. “As the association, we provide both psychological and legal support to women victims of online violence. Perpetrators of online violence are mostly fiancés, ex-husbands or male relatives.”

 As technology is becoming more widespread, online violence has become an alarming phenomenon, causing psychological consequences. “Many people do not know that online violence is a crime due to the lack of education and awareness-raising activities,” Shaima Ablaq said. “The victims of online violence must break the barrier of silence and report online violence against them. This form of violence can be as harmful as physical violence, and can result in stress, trauma, anxiety, sleep disorders and depression.”

She received threats

Samira is one of the women who experienced online violence in Morocco. Her ex-boyfriend threatened her of publishing her private photos on social media. “Although five years have passed, I still suffer from psychological consequences. I was in fear, even though I thought of killing myself,” Samira told NuJINHA. “I began to receive threats after I decided to break up with him. Thanks to the support of my friends, I could overcome this crisis.”