On December 10, 2025, the International Day for Human Rights, the AiW at LAU, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), organized a panel discussion titled “Beyond the Screen: Protection of Women & Girls from Digital Violence” at the Beit Beirut Museum. The event brought together leading experts from civil society, public institutions, and legislative bodies to shed light on the rising forms of digital violence and to highlight mechanisms for strengthening protection measures for women and girls in Lebanon and the region.

In their opening remarks, Ms. Myriam Sfeir, Executive Director of The AiW, welcomed participants and emphasized the Institute’s ongoing commitment to advancing gender justice in both physical and digital spaces. Then, Ms. Stephanie Chaban, Social Affairs Officer at ESCWA, highlighted the growing urgency of addressing digital violence across the region and underscored the need for coordinated responses. Both opening remarks established the context for a dynamic discussion on the root causes and far-reaching impact of digital violence against women and girls in Lebanon.

Following the opening remarks, Ms. Cynthia Al-Asmar, representing NCLW, explained how online platforms have increasingly become spaces of harassment, blackmail, and hate speech targeting women and girls, reaffirming NCLW’s commitment to strengthening protective legal frameworks and promoting safer digital environments. She emphasized the Commission’s efforts to mobilize communities around the importance of preventing digital violence against women and girls. Furthermore, Ms. Al-Asmar called for increased collaboration between government authorities and civil society to ensure accountability and create a more inclusive digital space for all.

To kick off the discussion, the AiW and ESCWA presented their 2021 Youth Art Competition, held as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The regional competition, organized yearly, invited youth to creatively denounce violence against women through poetry, drawings, paintings, and videos, attracting approximately 140 entries from Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The first-place winning video, which tackled digital violence, was screened during the event. It depicted a WhatsApp conversation between two girl best friends, in which one confides to the other, with much despair and worry, about a man who had been harassing her online. The video depicted a clear case of online harassment and abuse, delivering a compelling call to action against digital violence and setting the ground for the discussion.

Inspired by the creativity and message of the video, the first panelist, Ms. Hayat Mirshad, Founder & Executive Director of Fe-Male, highlighted the critical role of feminist organizations in documenting digital violence, amplifying survivors’ voices, and advocating for accountability. She noted that while advocacy for a comprehensive law addressing digital violence has been ongoing since at least 2021, the legislation has yet to be passed. Ms. Mirshad also shed light on the alarming rise in online harassment and misogynistic content, emphasizing the importance of media literacy and survivor-centered support mechanisms.

The second panelist, Ms. Roula Mikhael, Founder and Executive Director of Maharat Foundation, discussed the intersection of digital rights, freedom of expression, and online safety. She focused on the responsibility of media institutions and digital platforms in combating online abuse and countering disinformation narratives that disproportionately target women. Ms. Mikhael also stressed the need for robust regulations that protect rights without restricting freedoms.

The third panelist, Dr. Halimeh El Kaakour, Member of the Lebanese parliament, addressed the legislative perspective, outlining existing gaps in Lebanese law regarding digital safety and gender-based cyber-violence. She stressed the need for comprehensive reforms that explicitly recognize digital violence as a punishable offense and guarantee preventive, legal, and social protection measures for women and girls. Dr. Kaakour encouraged young women to claim their place in public and digital spaces and reaffirmed the parliament’s responsibility in ensuring their safety.

Finally, Major Elie Dagher from the Internal Security Forces – Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Protection Unit provided an overview of Lebanon’s legal tools and reporting mechanisms related to online crimes. He explained the procedures for filing complaints, the challenges faced in evidence collection, and the Unit’s efforts in raising awareness and enhancing response capabilities. Major Dagher also emphasized the importance of cooperation between security institutions, civil society, and victims to ensure effective protection.

The panel discussion concluded with a Q&A session, during which participants discussed with the speakers legal, social, and institutional approaches to combating digital violence.