Online abuse drives community workers away from advocacy, Klahaan study finds
Many community workers say online abuse makes them less willing to speak up, which could slow local change.
Monday 2 November · 20:18 · 1 min read
In 30 seconds
- More than half of the surveyed community workers said online abuse made them less willing to take part in community activities. [1]
- The study by the feminist group Klahaan found that limited awareness and weak support let online abuse go unchallenged. [1]
- Nearly 60 percent of respondents said online abuse could damage their reputation and credibility in community work. [1]
What happened
Klahaan, an independent feminist organization, released a study on technology-facilitated gender-based violence, called TFGBV. The study surveyed 321 people and held interviews in Phnom Penh, Battambang, Kandal and Ratanakiri. It found that abuse, such as impersonation, threats and AI-generated images, is making many workers reluctant to take part in community activities.
Why it matters
For ordinary Cambodians who volunteer or speak up online, the study suggests that abuse may make them stop participating. Women and LGBTIQ+ people are described as most at risk.
Background
Of the 321 survey responses, 70.1 percent came from women and 3.7 percent from non-binary people. Srun Lyhong, an action researcher at Klahaan, said many people do not see online abuse as violence because it has become normal, so victims often turn to friends rather than formal help.
Key terms
- TFGBV
- Technology-facilitated gender-based violence: abuse of a person because of their gender, carried out using digital tools.
- Doxing
- Publishing someone's private information online without their permission, often to harass them.
Sources (1)
[1] Cambodianess Online Gender-Based Violence Silences Community Workers, Klahaan Study Finds 2 Nov Read originalWas this explainer clear?
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