Cyberviolence against Women

Cyberviolence is an increasingly pressing issue in today’s world. Driven by technological development and widespread access to the Internet, it has become a global phenomenon unconstrained by time or space. This form of violence, manifested through harassment, abuse, and harmful behaviour on social media, has a tangible impact on everyday life, particularly for girls and women. This article analyses the phenomenon of cyberviolence against women and the legal instruments available to address it, focusing in particular on Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence, as well as relevant provisions in Polish law. It also presents the scale of cyberviolence in Poland and across Europe, based on a comparison of official data and statistics collected at national and EU levels.