Officials today sounded the alarm over a rapid surge in technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) across Sindh, citing a pressing need for institutional intervention to combat escalating online harassment, cyberstalking, and blackmail targeting women.
The growing challenge was the central focus of a roundtable discussion organized by the Legal Aid Society (LAS) in collaboration with the UNFPA and FCDO under the AWAAZ II Programme.
Addressing the forum, Director of the Sindh Human Rights Department, Agha Fakhur Hussain, stressed that the proliferation of digital abuse, including the non-consensual sharing of private content, constitutes a significant human rights concern that extends beyond the scope of cybercrime.
He called for a unified, coordinated response involving government bodies, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and digital platforms to tackle the issue effectively.
The Human Rights Department reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening policies to counter TFGBV. It also pledged to improve survivor-centered response mechanisms, support sensitization training for officers, and enhance public awareness campaigns focused on digital safety.
Agha Fakhur Hussain commended the LAS for organizing the dialogue and for developing a policy brief that outlines key legal and institutional gaps. The department expressed its full readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure the creation of safer and more inclusive digital spaces for women throughout the province.