Sénégal : Afia FM, Manooré FM et Thiorkat FM forment 50 acteurs communautaires contre les violences numériques

• 50 community actors in Senegal completed a four-day training program on online security and human rights.
• The training was led by three community radios directed by women: Afia FM, Manooré FM, and Thiorkat FM.
• Participants will inform their communities about online violence and promote digital security.
• Since 2018, nearly 5,000 cases of intimate video diffusion without consent have been registered in Senegal.
• The Police National has launched an online reporting platform for cyberbullying and violence against women and minors.

The space of digital communication is marked by numerous forms of violence that can lead to depression, loss of self-confidence, and even suicide.

In a bid to combat online violence in Senegal, a consortium of community radios has completed a four-day training program for 50 local actors. The training, which took place in Dakar and Thiès, aimed to equip participants with the skills to protect their populations from online violence and guide victims towards reporting mechanisms. The initiative was led by Afia FM, Manooré FM, and Thiorkat FM, three community radios directed by women. According to Diaw Diop, director of Thiorkat FM and member of the consortium, the participants are '50 ambassadors' who will now be able to inform their communities about online violence and promote digital security.

The training comes at a time when online violence is on the rise in Senegal. Since 2018, the division for combating cybercrime has registered nearly 5,000 cases of intimate video diffusion without consent. However, in 2025, only 456 dossiers were treated by the Commission for Data Protection, with only 20 formal complaints filed. This highlights the difficulty faced by victims in reporting online violence and seeking justice. The Police National has launched an online reporting platform to facilitate the filing of complaints related to cyberbullying and violence against women and minors.

The training is crucial as it not only empowers local actors to combat online violence but also helps them protect their populations from its consequences. According to Diaw Diop, the space of digital communication is marked by numerous forms of violence that can lead to depression, loss of self-confidence, and even suicide. Moreover, some victims may not realize they are being targeted. The training will enable participants to share their knowledge with their communities and provide them with tools to protect themselves from online violence. Fatoumata Aw, a beneficiary and member of an organization that manages a center for girls and women who have been victims of violence, believes the training is useful for associations that support vulnerable individuals.

Les radios communautaires formées pour lutter contre les violences numériques au Sénégal devraient informer leurs populations et les aider à se protéger, en plus de contribuer à l'orientation des victimes vers les dispositifs de signalement et prise en charge.

Source: Original reporting via Dakar et Thiès : 50 acteurs communautaires formés pour lutter contre les violences numériques