Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu joins UN Women India with a focus on ending digital violence against females!

Samantha Ruth Prabhu is a versatile and committed actor, a story-driven producer, and a passionate entrepreneur with purpose at the core of every venture. A fearless voice of today’s generation, she champions authenticity and empowerment, owning every aspect of her journey with strength, conviction, and heart.

#UNWomenIndia has partnered with renowned actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu for the 2025 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign (25 November–10 December). Under the theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” the campaign addresses one of the
fastest-growing forms of abuse globally.

Prabhu is known for acclaimed performances in the Tamil and Telugu films, and the Indian TV
Series, The Family Man, commands over 37 million social media followers. In a video message released today, she highlights the harms women and girls face online, from harassment and stalking to doxxing, deepfakes, and manipulated images.

Commenting on the occasion, 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 to 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.”

Violence against women and girls affects one in three women worldwide. Globally, 38 per cent of women have experienced online violence, while 85 percent have witnessed it. In the Asia-Pacific region, 76 per cent of women parliamentarians face psychological violence online and 60 per cent receive direct threats through social media. In India, cybercrimes against women have more than doubled in recent years, particularly online harassment and non-consensual sharing of intimate images, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Currently, 44 per cent of the world’s women and girls lack legal protection against digital violence. As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, this year’s campaign reminds us that digital safety is central to gender equality.

UN Women’s call to action
Through this partnership, Prabhu will amplify the #NoExcuse message: online violence is real
violence. The campaign calls on governments to criminalize digital violence and strengthen tech
sector accountability. It urges technology companies to ensure platform safety and publish
transparent reports. And it asks individuals to support survivors and challenge harmful online norms.

India recently amended its Information Technology (IT) Rules to address digital violence against
women and girls, mandating stronger accountability from social media platforms, timely removal of
offensive content, and swift action against perpetrators while protecting survivors’ privacy and
dignity.

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 16
Days of Activism, she is helping shift the narrative from normalization to action.”

About the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual global campaign that runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day. Initiated by civil society in 1991 and amplified globally by the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE campaign, it mobilizes governments, communities, organizations and individuals to take action to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.

About UN Women
UN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality, we shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. We keep the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress – always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are.

By Keerti Kadam