MOMBASA, Kenya, November 19, 2025—Sisters for Justice Organisation has launched an ambitious community-led initiative aimed at enhancing digital safety and strengthening access to justice for survivors of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV) in Mombasa.
Speaking during the inception meeting and official launch of the program, Executive Director Naillah Abdallah said TF-GBV is an emerging and rapidly escalating issue that many communities still poorly understand. She emphasised the need for in-depth awareness campaigns to help the public recognise, prevent, and respond to online harassment and abuse.
Naillah cautioned internet users to remain vigilant in their online interactions, noting that perpetrators are increasingly exploiting digital platforms to harass, threaten, and intimidate victims. She revealed that the organisation will work closely with lawyers to debunk and analyse existing laws, helping communities understand their rights and available legal remedies despite the absence of a unified law that specifically addresses TF-GBV.
She added that the organisation will embrace a strong social media campaign to educate the public about this new form of violence and encourage those already affected to seek redress.
“Communities must clearly understand what the laws say about TF-GBV. Even though we don’t yet have a single unified law, the existing legal frameworks are helpful, and people should know how to use them,” she said.
Naillah noted that cases of TF-GBV are rising, yet many victims do not know where or how to seek help. She stressed the importance of engaging lawyers to help communities preserve digital evidence, which is essential for justice to prevail.
The program will also target Gen-Z and university students, encouraging them to participate in online campaigns and take an active role in curbing digital-based violence.
She urged the public to use smartphones responsibly and called for continuous training of police officers, judiciary officers and justice actors to equip them with the knowledge needed to handle TF-GBV cases effectively.
Mombasa County Government Gender Director Esther Ingolo reiterated their commitment to supporting the fight against TF-GBV, noting that although national and county laws and policies exist, implementation remains weak.
Ingolo, stressed that awareness creation must continue until meaningful change is achieved.
“Just like HIV/AIDS that was detected four decades back but the awareness to tame it has never stopped, the fight against GBV is ongoing. Now that we are combating a new phenomenon – Technology-Facilitated GBV – we need united and accelerated efforts. We are living in the digital era, and we must work harder to address the challenges it presents,” she said.
Ms Ingolo called on the public to stop sharing threatening content online, report sexual harassment, and use digital spaces responsibly. She also urged communities to stay informed and support efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
