ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – On 17 June 2025, UNOPS Indonesia, UN Global Pulse Asia-Pacific, UN Women Indonesia, and the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) co-hosted the third Pulse Talk in Jakarta, themed “Creating Safe Online Spaces and Beyond: Addressing Online Violence Against Women and Girls.”
Organized under the UN Global Pulse Asia-Pacific initiative, the event aimed to deepen understanding of online gender-based violence, develop prevention and response strategies, and foster inclusive digital environments that prioritize the safety and dignity of women, girls, and marginalized groups.
The event drew over 95 participants from government, civil society, international organizations, academia, and youth groups, with an additional 250 viewers joining via Bappenas’ YouTube livestream. Discussions highlighted the transformative potential of digital technologies for gender equality, alongside the rising challenge of online violence, which silences women and limits their digital participation.
UN Resident Coordinator Gita Sabharwal opened the event, stressing that safe online spaces for women and girls benefit society as a whole. Dr. Agung Indrajit, Head of Bappenas’ Centre for Data and Information, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing violence against women, emphasizing inclusive dialogue to address digital challenges.
UN Women’s Nunik Nurjanah called online gender-based violence a human rights violation, advocating for cross-sectoral responses and engaging men and boys to challenge harmful norms.
Panelists, including SAFEnet’s Nenden Sekar Arum and Komnas Perempuan’s Sondang Frishka Simanjuntak, highlighted structural barriers like fragmented response mechanisms, inadequate survivor support, and weak reporting systems. They underscored that online abuse is real violence, threatening lives and pushing women out of digital spaces. Youth-led initiatives were spotlighted, with UN Women’s Humaira Asg emphasizing civic engagement, peer support, and digital education to tackle violence at its roots.
The event concluded with calls for survivor-centered policies, stronger legal protections, and multi-sector collaboration. UNOPS’ Marco Scarpetta and UN Global Pulse’s Ahmed El-Saeed emphasized designing safe digital spaces through collective action. Pulse Talk reinforced UNOPS’ commitment to supporting Indonesia’s inclusive development, aligning with national strategies and the SDGs. (AT Network)
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