The United Nations' victims' rights advocate urged governments and institutions on Thursday to treat digital violence against women and girls as a real, harmful extension of physical abuse and to prioritize victims in online spaces. "Today, violence against women and girls is not confined to physical spaces," the advocate said, adding that digital harms "leave scars unseen but deeply felt."

The speaker, speaking in the context of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, said the office's mandate is to "ensure that victims of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by United Nations staff and related personnel have a voice, assistance, and justice." She warned that images and posts can "spread globally in seconds, often beyond the reach of national laws," and that survivors frequently encounter disbelief and shame while perpetrators exploit anonymity and cross-jurisdictional gaps.

The advocate emphasized a victim-centered approach online, saying victims' rights "do not end where the digital world begins" and insisting that digital harassment "is not virtual, it's real." She called for policies and practices that keep survivors safe, supported and heard "wherever they are, online or offline."

During the remarks tied to the 16 Days of Activism, the speaker urged collective action: "let us unite to end digital violence against all women and girls" and to "reaffirm our shared responsibility to support survivors and build digital spaces rooted in dignity and respect." The address closed with an appeal that "every voice deserves to be heard, every right deserves to be upheld, and every woman and girl deserves to be safe."

The statement was a policy and moral appeal rather than a record of formal decisions; no motions or votes were announced.