As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to an end, HER Internet reiterates its unwavering stance against Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and all forms of online harm targeting womxn and structurally silenced communities.

Across Uganda and globally, Tech Facilitated Gender Based Violence (TFGBV) is rising at alarming levels. According to Uganda’s national reports on Gender-Based Violence, more than half of Ugandan womxn have experienced physical violence, while many continue to face sexual and psychological violence both offline and online. Globally, recent findings from UN Women further show that online violence against womxn in public spaces is becoming more sophisticated and more dangerous, including the use of AI-generated sexual abuse, deepfakes, surveillance, and targeted harassment campaigns designed to silence womxn and push them out of digital spaces entirely. These incidents remind us that the digital spaces where so many of us connect, learn, and thrive can also become tools of harm and that demands our urgent response because they have real emotional, psychological, economic, and physical consequences. TFGBV impacts also contribute to anxiety, fear, trauma, depression, self-censorship, social isolation, and withdrawal from digital platforms. For structurally silenced communities in Uganda, particularly womxn human rights defenders, feminists, and young womxn navigating increasingly hostile digital environments, online violence is often compounded by state surveillance, stigma, discrimination, and weak accountability systems.

“We reflected on how political propaganda, religious extremism, misogyny and anti-gay rhetoric continue to fuel online hostility and normalize violence against our bodies and communities. These realities remind us that TFGBV is not simply a digital issue. It is deeply rooted in systemic inequalities and existing social injustices that are increasingly being replicated and amplified through technology.” Sandra Kwikiriza, Executive Director at HER Internet.

• HER Internet rejects the normalization of online abuse and the culture of silence surrounding digital violence.
• We reject the idea that harassment is the cost of visibility.
• We reject digital spaces that profit from harmful content while failing to protect users most at risk.
• We reject policies, systems, and narratives that continue to criminalize, endanger, and erase structurally slienced communities online.
• We believe that everyone deserves safety, dignity, privacy, freedom of expression, and bodily autonomy online.

Addressing TFGBV requires urgent and collective action from governments, big tech companies, civil society organizations, media institutions, educators, and communities themselves. It requires survivor-centered responses, accessible reporting mechanisms, stronger digital security practices, platform accountability, digital rights protections, and mental health support for those affected by online harm.

Reach out to us for assistance in case you or anyone that you know experiences any form of violence on online platforms through email: info@herinternet.org. Survivors or victims of Non-Consensual Circulation of Intimate Images (NCII) can also reach out to www.stopncii.org which is a free tool designed to support victims through detection and removal of the images from being further shared online.

As HER Internet, we remain committed to building feminist digital futures rooted in care, justice, safety, and collective liberation, where structurally silenced communities can participate, organize, express themselves, and exist freely without fear.

Because digital violence is violence and silence cannot be the response.

Read or download the full statement via: https://www.herinternet.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TFGBV-Statement.pdf-o.pdf

#EndTFGBV

This Womxn’s Month, we are thrilled to celebrate our Founder and Executive Director, Sandra Kwikiriza, for her recognition among ABCD Africa’s 100 Most Impactful Voices 2026, a prestigious honor celebrating womxn changemakers of African descent who leverage their voices and digital content as tools for impact.

Sandra founded HER Internet, a feminist digital rights organization that advocates for the internet freedoms of structurally silenced womxn and female sex workers. Her work challenges patriarchal systems embedded in digital spaces and advances the Feminist Principles of the Internet. HER Internet champions digital literacy and security to promote good digital health, advocates for freedom of speech and expression online, decodes and addresses online violence, and studies the impact of AI on social justice.

The Work Continues

As digital spaces continue to shrink for feminist and queer expression, this recognition affirms that digital feminist activism works and that when womxn from structurally silenced communities lead, they create pathways to safer, more equitable digital futures. Learn and read more about HER Internet: https://www.herinternet.org

During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 2025, Leading Ladies Africa recognized 16 extraordinary African women championing the fight against gender-based violence and our Founder and Executive Director, Sandra Kwikiriza, was among them.

Why Sandra’s Work Matters

Sandra was recognized for her fearless leadership in fighting gender-based violence, particularly in digital spaces. As an Ugandan feminist and digital rights activist, she founded HER Internet to protect structurally silenced womxn, including female sex workers, queer womxn, and other structurally silenced communities from online harm. Under her leadership, HER Internet offers digital security training, psychosocial support, and safe-space convenings that equip structurally silenced womxn with the tools they need to protect themselves online.

“We must use our collective power to create an online environment that is safe for all of us regardless of our differences in gender, sexuality, choice of work or disability.” — Sandra Kwikiriza

The Fight Continues

The 16 Days of Activism campaign shines a light on gender-based violence and calls for action. Sandra’s inclusion in this spotlight underscores a critical truth: the fight against GBV extends beyond the physical realm into digital spaces, where womxn face harassment, surveillance, and violence at alarming rates. As technology becomes weaponized against womxn, HER Internet’s work to build digital safety and security for structurally silenced communities is more vital than ever. Learn more about Leading Ladies Africa: www.leadingladiesafrica.org

Happy New Year!

Uganda is heading into another election season, and for many communities, the internet feels less like a safe space and more like a battleground. Abrupt internet shutdowns, surveillance, and harassment are not just abstract risks they are lived realities, especially for structurally silenced womxn and female sex workers.

That was the heart of the conversation during a recent Digital Security and Resilience Webinar hosted by HER Internet, where activists, organizers, and community of structurally silenced communities came together to have conversations about digital safety and resilience throughout the upcoming election period. The session was also part of the ongoing Cohort 4 of HER Internet’s Digital Security and Safety Trainings, which brings together structurally silenced communities from across the country to strengthen their knowledge, share experiences and strategies and build collective resilience.

In her opening remarks, Sandra Kwikiriza, Executive Director at HER Internet, set the tone with a reminder of what’s at stake: “Uganda election cycles have historically been marked with volatility… we’ve seen internet shutdowns, intimidation of opposition voices, and heavy surveillance of citizens. For structurally silenced womxn and female sex workers in particular, past elections have increased the risks of online harassment, state surveillance, and outing.” For many, the internet is more than a place to post opinions. As Sandra put it, “Online spaces are not just platforms for expression. They are lifelines for many in our communities… avenues for advocacy, organizing, economic survival, and connection.” That lifeline, however, becomes fragile during elections.

The panel, moderated by Sanyu Mulungi, HER Internet’s Communications Director, unpacked the real dangers silenced communities encounter. John Grace, Coordinator of the Uganda Minority Shelters Consortium, pointed out how election seasons magnify existing threats: “Elections have historically magnified the risks, activists’ posts are used as evidence against them. We’ve also seen targeted misinformation campaigns scapegoating our community for failures of government or politicians.”

Kamagara Editah from the Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC) explained how laws are weaponized: “During the election period, we see a lot of online surveillance… laws like the Anti-Homosexuality Act are misinterpreted and used against our communities. Many face illegal arrests and delayed justice as cases are paraded in court but never tried.”

For Monalisa Akintole, Coordinator of the Uganda National Trans Forum, the risks extend to organizations themselves: “One of the risks is organizational vulnerability. We witness heightened surveillance that endangers our work. During elections, even shelters risk being seen as centers of political organizing, which makes it very hard for us to serve our communities.”

What happens online doesn’t stay online: For structurally silenced communities already living on the margins, a hacked account, a leaked screenshot, or a malicious post can quickly spill into real-life harm. Grace captured this reality clearly: “For structurally silenced communities, digital threats are not just inconveniences, they mirror the hostility we face offline. A leaked WhatsApp screenshot or hacked email can set off a chain reaction leading to eviction or physical violence.” And because of stigma, there’s little sympathy to fall back on.

As Grace noted, “Reporting can lead to further victimization. For us, digital insecurity often translates directly into physical insecurity.” Despite these risks, the panelists stressed that communities don’t need to disappear from online spaces, they need to be smarter and more deliberate in how they engage.

Monalisa celebrated grassroots workshops and organizations that equip people with tools and safer apps: “Technology evolves, and so must we. Everything about our lives is technologically intertwined. Communities need to share knowledge continuously.” She also called for collective care: “Checking in about security should be as normal as asking about someone’s health. We need collective response protocols for when someone is doxed or exposed online.”

Editah emphasized legal literacy, reminding participants that ignorance doesn’t shield anyone from the law: “Ignorance is not a defense but the language you use while communicating is what matters. What you post and how you post it could determine whether the law is used to criminalize you.”

Grace encouraged people to think about their digital presence the same way they think about physical safety: “Plan it, protect it, and know your exit. Decide what you will and will not post. Use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and have trusted emergency contacts.”

Another thread running through the conversation was the importance of remembering that the internet is not the only space where connection happens. Monalisa reminded everyone: “Your safety and well-being matter more than any post or retweet. There is life after the internet. Sometimes the best step is to step away, debrief, and connect with people in person.”

That perspective feels especially urgent in a country where internet shutdowns during elections are almost guaranteed. Panelists encouraged participants to prepare for those moments, stocking up on airtime, using coded language in phone calls, and planning offline ways to stay in touch. As Sandra put it, “Let’s plan for offline security as much as online. Have airtime, know where your people are, and be ready to communicate even if the internet goes off.”

The session wrapped up with a collective understanding that resilience is something communities build together. It’s about sharing knowledge, looking out for each other, and refusing to carry the burden of safety alone. As Mulungi concluded, “Security during elections is something we build together. It is not for one person to carry alone.”

Resilience isn’t just about surviving another election cycle. It’s about strengthening community bonds, reclaiming agency, and reminding one another that even in hostile environments, there is power in care and solidarity.