International Women’s Day: Defending Girls’ Right to Safety, Online and Offline

International Women’s Day is a day for all of us to celebrate the contributions of the extraordinary women throughout history and today. From the activists who fought for our right to vote, to the scientists, artists and leaders constantly breaking barriers in every field, women’s achievements have shaped our world. These stories inspire us, remind us of our resilience, and fuel our ongoing struggle for equality.

Women’s accomplishments aren’t just footnotes in history books; they’re the foundation of advancement. As a woman, I am extremely aware that the reason I have my rights is because a woman somewhere got up, made her voice heard, and made herself incredibly inconvenient until things changed for the better for all of us. Even today, women drive innovation in STEM, lead global movements for justice, and hold up economies through paid and unpaid labour. Honouring these feats isn’t optional; it’s essential for building a future where every girl sees herself reflected in positions of power and possibility.

Girls and young women experience disproportionate levels of online harassment as they quickly learn the unspoken rules of being a girl online. Don’t post too much. Don’t share strong opinions. Don’t respond to certain comments. Don’t draw attention. Think twice before you speak, unless you’re ready to deal with the consequences. A comment about your appearance. A message that crosses a boundary. A screenshot shared without consent. A rumour that spreads faster than you can defend yourself.

In a small country like Maldives where anybody knows everybody, online harm doesn’t stay online. It follows you into classrooms, into family conversations, and across communities. Many log off. They self-censor. They decide it’s safer to stay invisible. And when girls begin to silence themselves, our society loses something important.

Although many believe so, this isn’t an issue of “hurt feelings” but a matter of rights. When girls are harassed into silence, their right to freedom of expression and their right to privacy is undermined. When online threats spill into real-world fear, their right to safety is compromised. When harmful beauty standards and misogynistic content dominate algorithms, their right to dignity and equal participation is eroded.

Through initiatives like the national “Udhuhilan” child protection campaign, we are reminded that protection must evolve with the times. If children are learning, playing, and expressing themselves online, then safeguarding must extend there too. Protection should not mean restricting girls’ voices, monitoring them more closely, or putting the responsibility to conform on them. It should mean addressing harmful behaviours, challenging toxic norms, and creating systems that respond effectively when harm occurs.

Justice, therefore, means acknowledging that online harm reflects offline inequalities. Digital violence is not separate from gender discrimination; it is an extension of it. If discrimination in politics, media, and classrooms continue to be the norm in our society, it will inevitably spillover into our digital environment as well. Governments can make laws, but society shapes values. A culture that normalises staring, commenting, or blaming the victim silently supports the crime. Safety is not about restricting girls’ freedom; it’s about reforming society’s behaviour. Protecting women and girls online means defending their right to take up space, express opinions, and exist freely without fear.

International Women’s Day is not only about celebrating progress. It is about confronting the gaps between principle and practice. If we believe in equality, we must ensure that girls can participate online without fear. If we believe in justice, we must hold perpetrators and platforms accountable. If we believe in action, we must move beyond awareness to systemic change.

Justice means accountability for abuse. Action means designing safer digital environments. Rights mean girls should not have to make themselves smaller to stay safe. The next generation of Maldivian girls should not grow up believing that silence is safety. They should feel confident posting their ideas, leading conversations, and taking up space – both online and offline.