Online abuse silences women and marginalized groups in Sri Lanka

Gender
By Editor_1
Hundreds marched in Colombo in 2024 to mark the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, urging stronger action to ensure safety and dignity for women and girls across Sri Lanka - UN Sri Lanka

By Diego De La Rosa

COLOMBO – “I used to make TikTok videos, just for fun,” but then a few of my friends in the village started criticizing them and posting offensive comments. They also shared my personal information on social media,” says Niran*, a young transgender woman from Colombo. “After that, I could no longer live in my hometown and had to leave my family and relatives. I came to Colombo, changed my hairstyle and appearance to hide from society. My family also rejected me because of pressure from the village community.”

In recent years, Sri Lanka’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and other (LGBTQI+) community has been increasingly targeted online by individuals and organized groups. Extremist actors often create and circulate posts and videos filled with hate speech, amassing thousands of comments calling for violence. “Killed”, “stoned”, and “raped” are among the threats that appear beneath interviews and social media posts.

Niran’s story echoes that of many others across Sri Lanka. A recent study by UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reveals how online platforms have become a new frontier for gender-based violence. Women, girls, LGBTQI+ persons and ethnic minorities are among the most targeted, facing hate speech, fake accounts, sexual extortion and non-consensual image-sharing.

The study shows that over half of respondents (57%) felt unsafe online, and nearly one in three had personally experienced some form of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). For many, the harassment began with a social media message and spiralled into blackmail, public humiliation or even physical harm.

The Cybercrime Investigation Division, established in 2021, handles cases of hate speech and online violence under the Computer Crimes Act of 2007.

“A common issue is threats to leak private or intimate photos after a breakup,” explains Commander Nirosh Ananda, Chief Information Security Officer at Sri Lanka’s National Centre for Cyber Security. “For example, someone may share photos with a partner during the relationship, and after it ends, the partner uses those images to threaten, manipulate or embarrass them.”

Tharushi*, a university student from Jaffna, shared how online harassment has changed everyday interactions: “We feel scared to share our videos now on social media, as anyone can take them and create bad posts. Even among our friends, we share very little. Social media has made girls feel very insecure.”

The study also highlights how TFGBV mirrors long-standing inequalities in Sri Lankan society. Gender norms, social stigma and low digital literacy make women and marginalized groups more vulnerable. Hate content often focuses on women’s appearance, sexuality and personal lives, while LGBTQI+ people face online hate that reinforces homophobia and transphobia.

Denuka Jayasinghe, Program Specialist for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion at the non-profit Hashtag Generation, which manages a hotline providing support for online violence survivors, explains: “In recent months, there has been a noticeable surge in online hostility driven by anti-gender narratives and organized digital backlash. Women face repeated targeting, including the unauthorized spread of personal or sensitive content, while members of queer communities experience escalating attacks through the public disclosure of identity details.”

For many survivors, the price of online abuse is isolation. According to the study, 645 of survivors stopped using social media, and 42% experienced community rejection. Some lost jobs or dropped out of education because of the shame and fear that followed viral harassment.

“Economic loss and social exclusion are major consequences of TFGBV,” says Ramaaya Salgado, Head of the UN Women Sri Lanka Office. “When women and marginalized groups withdraw from online spaces, they also lose access to information, markets and opportunities – a loss that becomes a broader societal issue of safety and equality.”

The report urges stronger coordination between law enforcement, digital platforms and community organizations to prevent and respond to TF GBV. It calls for capacity-building for police and judicial officers, improved reporting systems and public education on online safety.

– asiapacific.unwomen.org

Read the study here

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