Published: December 10, 2025
MONROVIA — As Liberia joins the global observance of the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) on Tuesday convened a dialogue at the College of West Africa to confront the escalating threat of digital violence and its impact on women, girls and young people.
The event aligned with this year’s global theme, “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” and Liberia’s national focus, “Unite to End Violence: Protecting All Women and Children in Our Communities and Digital Spaces.” Dozens of students attended the one-day session, which aimed to deepen understanding of online abuse, strengthen prevention efforts, and promote responsible digital behavior.
CENTAL Warns of Rising Online Abuse
Providing an overview, CENTAL Media Assistant Mark Boahnado described digital abuse as a growing national concern, citing increased reports of cyberbullying, image-based violence and online harassment. Young people, he emphasized, remain the primary users of digital platforms—and the most exposed.
“Digital violence is on the rise, and it is affecting young people, especially women and girls,” Boahnado told students. “We all have rights, and we must stand up and speak against these harmful behaviors.”
He urged students to consider the consequences of misusing digital tools and cautioned against using social media to bully, shame or expose others.
Panelists Call for Reporting and Responsible Digital Conduct
A three-member panel—including Sylvia Brown-Paye of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; Perkins E. T. Boye, Regional Director for Africa at Professional Advocates for Disability Inclusion; and Christiana Kanwea, a 12th-grade student of CWA—encouraged students to report sexual and digital violence affecting both boys and girls.
The panelists stressed that silence enables abuse and urged young people to speak up, support peers and use available reporting avenues.
CENTAL’s Gender Officer Breaks Down Digital Violence
CENTAL Gender and Inclusion Officer Clara K. Mallah delivered a detailed presentation on digital violence and the legal frameworks designed to combat it. She reminded students that Liberia is party to several international treaties—including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which obligate the state to protect women and children both online and offline.
She also cited key national laws such as Articles 11 and 18 of the Liberian Constitution, the Domestic Violence Act, the Children’s Law of 2011, and the 2006 Rape Law, stressing that all guarantee safety, dignity and equal protection.
Mallah defined digital violence as “harmful acts carried out through communication technologies, social media, smartphones or the Internet, that cause psychological, physical, economic or social harm.” She highlighted common forms, including cyberbullying, harassment, stalking, image-based abuse, deepfake manipulation, hate speech and identity theft.
Mallah warned of the emotional and psychological toll on victims, noting that anxiety, depression, shame and suicidal thoughts are common outcomes. She also raised concern over the rise of AI-generated deepfakes, which can digitally strip individuals or place their likeness in explicit content without consent.
“We are living in troubling times,” she said. “Technology brings opportunities, but it also exposes us to serious risks. We must be careful, responsible and respectful online.”
CENTAL Highlights Anti-Corruption Hotline
In addition to digital safety, CENTAL used the occasion to promote its confidential anti-corruption hotline—4432—which allows citizens to report corruption, sextortion and related abuses.
Mallah shared data showing that between December 2020 and November 2025, CENTAL received 55 corruption-related reports from women, including cases linked to domestic violence and abandonment, and a total of 352 reports covering corruption, rape and poor service delivery.
She urged students to use the hotline responsibly and to speak out whenever they encounter wrongdoing.
Students Encouraged to Lead Change
Throughout the session, facilitators reminded students of their influence as emerging leaders and digital citizens.
“What you read, share or post online has an impact,” Boahnado said. “You are the future of this country. Your behavior will determine the digital culture we build.”
CENTAL concluded the event with an open discussion and distributed awareness materials, including T-shirts. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accountability, safeguarding human rights and working with schools, communities and government agencies to ensure a safer digital environment for all Liberians, especially women, girls and vulnerable groups.
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