Sunday Jr Tom

The energy at the 2nd West Nile SRHR Symposium here in Arua is a powerful reminder of why our work in the region is so vital. We listened to @NyapendiEsther from @wougnet today, who says she is struck by how deeply our digital habits are now intertwined with our physical safety and bodily autonomy. Digital safety isn't just a technical skill; for the adolescents and young women we serve, it is a fundamental act of self-defense. As Esther emphasized, our "bad habits” like the impulse to share every moment of our lives online - can inadvertently hand a map to those who wish us harm. To protect the sexual and reproductive rights of our community, we must treat our technological devices with the same level of care we give our physical spaces. Silence the Trackers: We are constantly being monitored by third parties and ISPs. Turning off geo-location isn’t just about privacy; it’s about ensuring that an abuser cannot track a young woman’s movements to a health center or a safe space. Layer the Defense: We need to normalize the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to mask IP addresses and adopt Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) as a non-negotiable standard. Fortify the Gates: Using password managers and unique, strong passwords ensures that our personal narratives and private conversations stay exactly that - private. The surge of online GBV in Uganda is a sobering reality. Esther’s concern regarding the WOUGNET OGBV Knowledge Portal highlights a gap we see far too often: we can provide the platforms for reporting, but if the police lack the technical capacity to investigate digital crimes, and if the courts do not fully embrace digital approaches for case management, justice remains out of reach. This lack of critical awareness around digital security makes it harder to manage cases and even harder to prevent them. Our referral pathways are only as strong as the technical literacy of the institutions receiving them. Esther noted that more than ever, we must lead the charge in teaching our communities how to embrace encryption and "mirror" conversations through secure applications. She says safeguarding the next generation of girls and young women in the West Nile requires us to bridge the gap between digital innovation and institutional accountability. We aren't just protecting data; we are protecting the right of every young person to live safely, both online and off.

Weldone. Thank you for the representation

49% have experienced sexual harassment online.