The Abductees’ Mothers Association, in partnership with the Global Network for Civil Society Action (ICAN), held a dialogue session, Thursday, in Ma’rib titled “Engaging Stakeholders in Developing Solutions and Protection Mechanisms against Online Blackmail of Women and Girls.” The session was attended by representatives of several organizations and individuals concerned with protection, rights, and digital peacebuilding.
The session discussed mechanisms for the early detection of online blackmail cases, safe referral of girls, and ways to provide safe spaces for victims. It also examined the role of the women’s police in handling blackmail cases while maintaining a balance between confidentiality, reporting, and victim protection.
Participants also highlighted the importance of promoting digital peace and protection in schools and universities and integrating these concepts into curricula and educational programs to raise students’ awareness of the risks of online blackmail and ways to prevent it.
The session concluded with several recommendations, most notably the development of a simplified guide explaining steps to prevent online blackmail and mechanisms for safely reporting cases to the relevant authorities. Participants also called for strengthening digital protection and awareness programs through the media, including awareness messages, public-service announcements, and short films.
The participants further recommended strengthening family- and community-based protection programs in schools and universities, submitting a proposed resolution to the Presidential Leadership Council on online blackmail and related crimes, and using religious discourse in mosques to raise awareness of the risks of online blackmail, prevention measures, and safe reporting mechanisms.
The session emphasized the importance of coordinating the roles of families, schools, communities, security agencies, media organizations, and religious institutions to create a safer environment for women and girls, promote awareness of digital protection and peace, and reduce the risks and impacts of online blackmail on victims.
The session was attended by Judge Fatah Al-Rahman Al-Khubbi and Hassan Al-Qubaisi, Director of Endowments, along with a number of journalists, media professionals, psychologists, and others interested in protection and rights issues.
