Online abuse silences PNG’s young women

The internet which is supposed to be used as a platform for young Papua New Guinean to showcase talent, connect, and be heard is now becoming a place of fear, especially for young women.

United Nations Development Program [UNDP] Resident Representative Nicholas Booth and Director of the National GBV Secretariat Diane Kambenai during the National Women’s Day expressed that digital platforms may be global, but their consequences are local.

They said studies across the Pacific shows that cyberbullying, harassment, and image-based abuse excessively affect girls, undermining confidence and limiting opportunities.

“In PNG, social media has increasingly been used not just to spread anger, but to inflict direct real-world violence. In several cases, women accused of infidelity, witchcraft, or “bringing shame” to their communities have had their photos and personal details shared on Facebook and other online platforms.

“This has been followed by calls for punishment that quickly led to harassment or mob violence offline. At the same time, graphic videos of women being tortured or violently punished for alleged infidelity or witchcraft circulate widely on WhatsApp, transforming real-world abuse into viral content.” UNDP and GBV Secretariat said.

The online attack was also experienced by women contestants during the Miss PNG and Miss Pacific Island Pageant respectively which also resulted in constructive and hurtful debates and criticism domestically and across Pacific Islands.

It was also noted that rather than exposing injustice in ways that protects victims, the circulation of these videos normalizes violence and keeps women in a constant state of fear about the real-world consequences of online targeting.

“This has broader implications for Papua New Guinea. If our youth, particularly young women, are discouraged from public participation due to fear of online attacks threatening their physical safety, the country loses more than individual potential.

“We lose leaders, innovators, cultural ambassadors, and voices that could shape a more equitable, resilient society. Opportunities in leadership, media, arts, and international forums may go unpursued, limiting PNG’s presence and influence on regional and global stages.”

Meanwhile, addressing this requires more than condemnation. Governments, civil society, and tech platforms must work together to create safe digital spaces.

UNDP and GBV Secretariat recommends that policies, digital literacy programs, and culturally grounded online safety standards are urgently needed to protect young people, especially women, from abuse and discrimination.

They also remain committed to contribute and address it.