Kathmandu, Dec 16: Zonta Club Kathmandu organised a series of cybersecurity awareness programmes across Nepal as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence under the UNITE campaign, aligning with this year’s theme, “End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”
The initiatives were carried out in collaboration with the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police, women lawyers and Chandragiri Municipality, aiming to strengthen awareness on online safety and digital rights, particularly among women and girls.
According to the organisers, the campaign reached more than 600 participants, including children, students, women representatives and corporate officials, through a mix of in-person and virtual sessions held in Kathmandu, Kalikot and Lumbini. The sessions addressed emerging cybercrime trends in Nepal, safe online practices, legal safeguards against digital abuse and available support mechanisms for victims.
A major in-person programme was held on November 25 at the Chandragiri Municipality Office, with 160 participants, including ward-level women representatives, municipal officials and community members. This was followed by online outreach on November 26 for around 200 students from 10 schools in Kalikot district, and another awareness session on December 3 for 110 students at an Awadhi community school in Lumbini.
The campaign concluded with an interactive cybersecurity awareness programme for corporate officials in Kathmandu on December 10, which drew 70 participants from various organisations. In addition, members of the Zonta Youth Club organised a panel discussion on issues affecting women and girls at the Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management on December 2.
“Zonta envisions a world where no woman lives in fear of violence,” said Bina Rana, President of Zonta Club Kathmandu, noting that the growing role of technology in daily life has also created new avenues for abuse. She said the programmes were designed to respond to these emerging challenges while promoting responsible digital citizenship.
The club said the campaign highlighted the importance of collective action, adding that collaboration between institutions, communities and advocates is essential to creating sustained awareness and meaningful change to end digital violence.
The awareness drive was supported by Everest Bank Limited, Golchha Group, NMB Bank Ltd. and Padma Jyoti Group, whose contributions helped extend outreach to vulnerable and remote communities, the organisers said.
