Online violence and abuse against women has become a far too common experience across the world. It is an extension of the offline violence and abuse faced by women. Abusive content is especially targeted at women who belong to marginalised sections of society. Outspoken women, like journalists and other prominent public figures, face particularly targeted online harassment and threats of violence for merely expressing their opinion.

Research conducted by Amnesty International in 2017, revealed the alarming impact that abuse and harassment on social media have on women, with women around the world reporting stress, anxiety, or panic attacks as a result of these harmful online experiences. Amnesty International surveyed 4000 women between the ages of 18 and 55, across eight countries (Denmark, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK and USA). 76% of the women who had experienced abuse or harassment on social media made changes to the way they use social media platforms. 32% of whom said they’d stopped posting content that expressed their opinion on certain issues.

Social media platforms are a critical space for women and marginalised groups to exercise their right to freedom of expression in our technologically driven world. Online violence and abuse has silenced women and threatened their fundamental freedom of expression, and continues to do so all over the world. This year, Amnesty India's ongoing gender based violence programme will launch a rights campaign that aims to ensure that women in India can exercise their right to free speech without the fear of violence and abuse.