[Press release]
Samantha Ruth Prabhu, a versatile and committed actor. Photo: UN Women/Sudeshna Mukherjee
New Delhi, India — UN Women India 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, 37, known for acclaimed performances in 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 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.”
A global human rights emergency
Violence against women and girls affects one in three women worldwide. Globally, 38 per cent of women have experienced online violence, while 85 per cent 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.”
