Social media offer a global platform for the work of activists and their messages. But women who prominently campaign for peace and justice quickly experience an often violent backlash both in virtual and physical spaces. At an event we organised with the Canadian Embassy in Bern on 1 April 2025, Sudanese peace activist and gender expert Rabab Baldo and the Colombian human rights lawyer Luz Marina Monzón Cifuentes spoke about how cyberattacks are part of a broader effort to silence women like them.

Following the screening of the Canadian documentary “Backlash, Misogyny in the Digital Age”, audience members had the opportunity to send us questions for the two women. We promised to forward them to Rabab and Luz Marina and to publish their answers. Here they are.

Audience member: What can we as individuals do to fight against cyber harassment?

Rabab Baldo: Cyber harassment is often used as a tool to silence women and shrink the scope of their participation in political life and peacebuilding efforts. Many women worry about their image and reputation, which makes them particularly vulnerable. To confront this, we must first understand that taking on public roles inevitably attracts adversaries – people we may not know, but who know us. The best defence is to build our self-confidence and prepare ourselves, our families and our friends for the reality that this is part of the path we walk when we stand up for peace, justice and human rights. Our voices challenge warlords, national security apparatuses and those who benefit from the perpetuation of conflict. And that’s exactly why we must continue speaking out.

Luz Marina Monzón Cifuentes: The first thing I think we need to do as individuals is to be aware of what cyberbullying means and the impact it has on people's lives. The second thing is to take action so that we do not become a part of cyberbullying. I also believe that it is important to actively engage in the prevention of cyberbullying by joining short- and long-term campaigns to raise awareness of what this type of violence against people means and the impact it has on personal, social and community life. We must seek to understand the impact of such mechanisms of exclusion, discrimination and cancellation on the exercise of our rights and freedoms, and thus on democracy and the rule of law.

Audience member: How can each one of us protect ourselves from cyber violence? What can help?

Rabab: Protecting ourselves from cyber violence ideally requires strong justice institutions that can investigate and hold perpetrators accountable. However, in contexts like Sudan the very institutions meant to protect us – including security forces – are often the ones targeting us. In such situations, we must develop our own strategies for protection. One approach is to mentally and emotionally prepare ourselves by not allowing cyberattacks to destabilise us – recognising them as part of a broader effort to silence us. If threats escalate into physical violence, relying on trusted personal security measures becomes essential. Building networks of support, staying vigilant and documenting abuse can also play a critical role in protecting ourselves and others.

Luz Marina: Prevention is the best form of protection. Campaigns or strategies to raise awareness about what violence through social networks means, the methods used and its purposes are essential to take a critical and active stance against this type of violence. Promoting exchanges within family, social, community and professional circles and in the mainstream media is a way to help raise awareness of cyberbullying a strategy of persecution and violence against people who exercise their rights and assume positions of power. In this regard, it is essential to relate the cyberbullying to the context in which the victim finds themselves: political position, media exposure, leadership in claims for rights, identities, land or gender, among others. This analysis helps to understand the possible origin of cyberbullying in a particular case and to take an informed position or opinion.

Audience member: How can one explain to a privileged man that there is still significant progress to be made in achieving gender equity? How can we make people aware who never felt discriminated against and never faced invisible barriers?

Rabab: Engaging privileged men is essential – they can be powerful allies and champions for change. Raising awareness among those who have never faced discrimination or invisible barriers requires empathy, education and storytelling that highlights lived experiences beyond their own. In the context of Switzerland, there is already strong awareness of and solidarity with people suffering in places like Sudan and other conflict-affected countries. However, there is a need to go further. The Swiss government’s partnerships with countries that violate human rights, particularly women’s rights, must be critically examined. Switzerland’s strong feminist foreign policy should be aligned with its development and economic interests by placing conditions on its engagement with regimes that fuel war and systemic injustice. Swiss men and women alike can play a key role in holding their government accountable to its feminist and human rights commitments. They can lead advocacy efforts and ensure that Switzerland's values are consistently reflected in its foreign policy and international partnerships.

Luz Marina: One way to raise awareness and engage someone who has not faced inequality, vulnerability, and discrimination is to educate them about what cyberbullying means in terms of the living conditions not only of those who are direct victims of this type of violence, but also in terms of the conditions for the safe exercise of rights and freedoms in a democratic society. This is because attacks or violence against people for acting, speaking or living the way they choose is part of their right to freedom and autonomy. Denying, limiting or persecuting the exercise of this right has an impact on the culture and values of a society. This perspective can help us understand that cyberattacks are not a private or individual matter. They are also collective and therefore part of the public interest.

Audience member: In your opinion, could mothers do something to better educate their sons? All men at one point at least had a mum. I don't understand why so many men have so much hatred towards women. Women should hate men way more but this is not the case.

Rabab: Mothers play a vital role in shaping the values and attitudes of their children, especially in the early years when child rearing often relies heavily on them. They have a powerful opportunity to teach their sons about justice, empathy, and respect for others – regardless of gender, race, or identity. By instilling these values early, mothers can help their sons grow into men who appreciate diversity and understand the harm caused by discrimination and inequality. This awareness can reduce harmful behaviours, including cyber harassment. Promoting respect for gender and generational diversity is not just about individual relationships – it also contributes to building more peaceful communities and societies, where everyone has the chance to live in dignity and safety.

Luz Marina: In my opinion, values education from an early age is crucial. This education must be expressed not only in the transmission of meanings, but also in the importance of acting on those values. Perhaps addressing the issue directly will generate resistance or indifference because, ultimately, young people are constantly connected to social media and may feel that they are being questioned.

Cyberattacks are not a private or individual matter. They are also collective and therefore part of the public interest.

Information on the event

All information on the event "Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age" that took place on 1 April 2025.