Samantha Ruth Prabhu joins UN Women India to lead campaign against digital violence

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu joins UN Women India

Acclaimed actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu is lending her voice and influence to UN Women India’s 2025 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, running from 25 November to 10 December.

This year, the focus is on an increasingly urgent issue under the theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”, drawing attention to the rapid rise of online abuse.

Prabhu, celebrated for her work in Tamil and Telugu cinema as well as the Indian TV series The Family Man, reaches over 37 million fans on social media.

In a heartfelt video message released today, she spoke about the very real harms women and girls face online—ranging from harassment and stalking to doxxing, deepfakes, and the non-consensual circulation of manipulated images.

Reflecting on her own experiences, Prabhu said: “As someone who’s been in the public eye, I understand how deeply digital violence affects lives, confidence, and safety, especially when it’s directed at women. Violence no longer happens only in physical spaces; it follows us onto screens, silences our voices, and destroys reputations. I am honoured to partner with UN Women India to demand platform accountability, strengthen legal protections, and remind everyone that behind every abusive comment or manipulated image is a real person whose dignity must be protected.”

The urgency is evident from the statistics. One in three women worldwide are victims of violence, with 38% reporting online abuse and 85% witnessing it.

60% of female lawmakers in the Asia-Pacific region receive direct threats via social media, and 76% of them experience psychological attacks online.

In India, cybercrimes targeting women have more than doubled in recent years, particularly online harassment and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.

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With nearly half of the world’s women and girls lacking legal protection against digital violence, the campaign reminds us that online safety is central to gender equality. Through her partnership, Prabhu will amplify the #NoExcuse message: online violence is real violence.

The initiative calls on governments to criminalise digital abuse, urges tech companies to ensure safer platforms, and encourages individuals to stand with survivors and challenge harmful online behaviours.

Kanta Singh, UN Women India Country Representative, a.i., said: “Ms Prabhu’s voice and reach will bring national attention to the urgent need to address digital violence. This is not a stand-alone issue. It reflects and reinforces broader patterns of discrimination and inequality. By joining the 16Days of Activism, she is helping shift the narrative from normalisation to action.”