Jakarta (ANTARA) - Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Minister Bintang Puspayoga has highlighted the need for women and children to be more vigilant when utilizing digital technology. "Women and children who have good digital literacy will be able to protect themselves from various harms in the digital world, including protecting their children and family in the digital world and social media," she expounded here on Thursday.

This is deemed important considering that women and children are groups that are vulnerable to online gender-based violence.

According to SAFEnet Indonesia data, cases of online gender-based violence in the country have increased fourfold.

The minister informed that in the first quarter of 2023, the number of such cases stood at 118, and increased to 480 in the first quarter of 2024.

She further said that the highest number of victims was recorded in the 18–25 years age bracket, with 272 cases reported, accounting for 57 percent of the total figure, followed by children aged under 18, with 123 cases reported, or 26 percent of the total.

The cases were related to online sexual harassment and exploitation of women and children as well as non-consensual sexual content distribution.

According to her, those are forms of online gender-based violence that can easily happen to anyone, yet fair solutions for victims remain few.

The minister said that synergy and collaboration among all relevant parties are needed to tackle issues involving violence against women and children.

"The ministry will not be able to handle violence issues alone, especially those involving social media. It needs the participation of all existing stakeholders to play a role in the protection of women and children," she added.

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Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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