A life-Saving Embrace
Parental Compassion Toward Daughters Victimized by Cyber Blackmail
Can Mean the Difference Between Life and Death.
Radwa Hosny — Egypt
This report follows the story of Waad, a young woman in Egypt who endured years
of cyber blackmail and stalking from a former partner, leading her to multiple suicide attempts. Her greatest fear was her family discovering all about it.,She believed it could expose her to violence or even “honor” killing. The piece highlights
how fear of stigma and lack of confidential support silence many victims. A Speak
Up! survey found that only 10% of women report incidents of digital violence,
largely due to fear of family backlash or a lack of knowledge on how to report. Yet
it also shows the lifesaving power of family support, citing cases where parents
intervened and reported blackmailers. Civil society groups like Speak Up! and
Bar-Aman are working to raise awareness, encourage parental trust, and provide
safe reporting channels. Ultimately, the report underlines that parental embrace
and social understanding can mean the difference between despair and survival.
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