DVAW IN CONFLICT ZONES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
Reasons for Increase in DVAW in Conflict Zones
The research has concluded that the growing scale and diversity of digital violence against women in
conflict-affected areas of the MENA region can be attributed to several key factors:
•
Prolonged armed conflicts lasting between eight and twenty years (and much longer in
Palestine) have contributed to the proliferation of armed militias and extremist groups and the
collapse of state authority. This has exacerbated violence against women and led to the
deterioration of their conditions across many levels. These conflicts have also hindered the
development of institutions tasked with protecting citizens, such as the judiciary, police, and
security forces, and have stalled the enactment of new laws responsive to community needs,
including digital protection legislation. In parallel, stalled development, rising poverty and
unemployment, and declining education levels—worsened by war—have contributed to a surge
in online harm. This can take the form of extortion for money, attempts to silence women’s
political or rights-based positions, or coercion for sexual favors, with women often being the
most vulnerable to this type of exploitation.
•
Political conflict has intensified digital targeting of women leaders and activists in politics,
human rights, and the media. These women are frequently subjected to online bullying and
smear campaigns—whether individually or in coordinated efforts—by political rivals, ideological
opponents, or even armed groups. The aim is to sideline them from political competition and to
discourage their participation in male-dominated arenas. In some cases, women are used as
tools to discredit political opponents, undermining their standing both socially and politically.
•
Patriarchal societies and structures in these countries reinforce cultural and societal norms that
devalue women and limit their roles. Women are often seen as bearers of family honor or
shame, which entrenches male dominance within the household. This results in increased
restrictions on women under the guise of preserving religion and morality, and it heightens their
fear of reporting harassment or digital violence due to potential punishment—such as being
denied access to technology. In more extreme cases, it may lead to being barred from education
or work altogether. Despite gains in women’s access to education and employment in many of
these countries, deep-rooted traditions continue to give men authority over decision-making
and household control.
•
The rise of extremism (religious, ethnic and or partisan) in many of these countries, fueled by
political instability, has also contributed to a surge in DVAW. Extremist groups use the internet
and social media to impose strict social controls over women and to limit their presence in public
spaces. Women who defy these rigid norms face smear campaigns, cyberbullying, threats of
violence, and digital extortion. These fundamentalist ideologies also promote hate speech that
normalizes the invasion of women’s privacy and moral shaming, often pushing women into
digital isolation or discouraging them from participating in public discourse for fear of reprisal.
•
The political and colonial context in Palestine exposes women to compounded forms of
violence. Various authorities exploit prevailing social dynamics to intimidate women, particularly
those who are politically active. These women are often targeted by both Israeli and Palestinian
authorities, and the official mechanisms that might offer protection are frequently viewed as
unreliable—or entirely unknown to women in various geographic areas.
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