Barriers to Accessing Legal Support (ctd.)
Illustrative
Reflections
One of the survivors who was interviewed in the
KII’s shared the layered barriers to accessing
justice and its connection to cultural barriers:
“The difficulty is not just that I’ve
been subjected to online violence...
It's the societal fears and pressures
that stop these women from reaching
out. Sometimes, it's not just the
economic background but the social
one that holds people back. For
example, a friend of mine, who is
supposed to be open-minded, did not
file a complaint because her
husband told her not to go to the
Cybercrimes department as a woman.
This shows how social barriers can
be more limiting than financial
ones.”
Discussion
These reflections shed light on the intersection
of societal expectations, financial insecurity, and
legal access. Survivors often face compounded
barriers, particularly when social norms
stigmatize their experiences, and financial
challenges prevent them from pursuing legal
action. This complex web of barriers underscores
the need for comprehensive support systems that
address both the social and economic factors
affecting survivors' ability to seek justice.
This testimony exemplifies how, despite access
to technology and awareness of rights, societal
pressures, family dynamics, and financial
constraints hinder survivors from seeking
justice. The pressure to remain silent or ignore
their experiences due to cultural taboos and
economic struggles further complicates the
situation for many women, especially those from
marginalized communities.
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