March 7, 2023
Alexandra Kinias
Feriel Fatima Zohra Menouar is passionate digital safety advocate from a gender perspective in the MENA region. She has been actively working in the digital safety sphere in Algeria for 4 years with Salamat program, a regional program that aims to increase public awareness of digital risks. Currently, she works with Digital Arabia Network DAN as a Regional trainer on “Strengthening the Civil Society in the MENA Region to Fight Cybercrimes Against Women”. Menouar had worked as a consultant on gender and women issues for many NGOs. She is also a founding member of the UN Women Arab States/North Africa Youth Gender Innovation Agora.
In February 2023, Menour led a session on the fundamentals of digital safety at FemParl MENA III Conferencehosted by the Embassy of Canada in Jordan. She provided the delegates with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to better protect themselves against online threats through digital clinics.
WoEgypt: How did you first get involved in working for gender and women issues?
Ferial Fatima Zohra Menouar: I started working on gender and women issues in 2017 with UN Women – Arab States/North Africa under the gender innovation Agora program. The Agora is a dynamic partnership between UN Women and key representatives from nonprofit institutions focused on developing innovative projects to close the gender gap in the MENA region and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
WoEgypt: Who or what inspired and influenced you to follow this path?
FFZM: In my childhood, I saw many girls in my community denied the opportunity to finish their education for many reasons, or because they were forced into marriage. I observed a clear distinction in the way families interacted with their daughters versus their sons. I witnessed women being mistreated and subjected to unfair treatment in their workplaces, homes, and society. The pressure of conforming to societal expectations or norms often leads women to suffer in silence rather than speak up about their struggles. I became conscious that women and girls have rights they are unaware of. I developed a heightened understanding of the disparities between genders and social classes and I began volunteering with local NGOs in my city to create meaningful change in the lives of people, and especially women and girls.
WoEgypt: How did you get involved with Salamat?
FFZM: After working with the Youth Gender Innovation Agora on categorizing all the gender-based violence types, I became more interested in online GBV and digital safety from a gender perspective. Digital safety is important for all users but women are particularly vulnerable due to the gender-based power dynamics that exist in the society. That’s why women are more likely to be victims of digital risk, including GBV online (online harassment, stalking, and identity theft).
I took courses and training on digital safety to learn more. One of the training was with Salamat MENA, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of digital safety, and how to address gender-based cyber-violence via the Internet and social networks. After that training, I started to work with Salamat in Algeria as a consultant and national coordinator.
FFZM: In my childhood, I saw many girls in my community denied the opportunity to finish their education for many reasons, or because they were forced into marriage. I observed a clear distinction in the way families interacted with their daughters versus their sons. I witnessed women being mistreated and subjected to unfair treatment in their workplaces, homes, and society. The pressure of conforming to societal expectations or norms often leads women to suffer in silence rather than speak up about their struggles. I became conscious that women and girls have rights they are unaware of. I developed a heightened understanding of the disparities between genders and social classes and I began volunteering with local NGOs in my city to create meaningful change in the lives of people, and especially women and girls.
WoEgypt: How did you get involved with Salamat?
FFZM: After working with the Youth Gender Innovation Agora on categorizing all the gender-based violence types, I became more interested in online GBV and digital safety from a gender perspective. Digital safety is important for all users but women are particularly vulnerable due to the gender-based power dynamics that exist in the society. That’s why women are more likely to be victims of digital risk, including GBV online (online harassment, stalking, and identity theft).
I took courses and training on digital safety to learn more. One of the training was with Salamat MENA, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of digital safety, and how to address gender-based cyber-violence via the Internet and social networks. After that training, I started to work with Salamat in Algeria as a consultant and national coordinator.
WoEgypt: What are your roles and responsibilities in the organization?
FFZM: Under this program, my accomplishments include (1) training thousands of Algerian women and activists in basic digital safety and digital self-care practices; (2) spearheading social media campaigns to help Algerian women identify common digital threats related to online gender-based violence; and (3) implementing “digital clinics” to provide technical and mental support, in addition to legal guidance to Algerian women who fell victim to digital violence.
WoEgypt: You participated as a moderator in FemParl III. Can you tell us more about the conference and how has it impacted the cause since its launch in 2018?
FFZM: The FemParl Conference is an annual event that brings together female parliamentarians from around the MENA region to discuss issues related to gender equality. The conference was first held in 2018 and has since become an important platform for female parliamentarians. The Conference has had a positive impact on gender equality. It has provided a platform for female parliamentarians to share their experiences and discuss strategies for advancing gender equality. It has also helped to raise awareness of gender inequality and the need for greater representation of women in politics. Additionally, the conference has provided a space for female parliamentarians to network and build relationships with each other, which can help to create a more inclusive and equitable political environment.
WoEgypt: What are some of the initiatives of Salamat to ensure women’s safety online that you are mostly excited about?
FFZM: For me, the greatest accomplishment we achieved at Salamt is that we have developed a range of educational resources on digital safety tips and a comprehensive how-to guide to help protect women’s online safety. Our resources cover topics such as online privacy, cyberbullying, online harassment, and more. We hope that these resources will help empower women to take control of their online safety and protect themselves from potential threats.
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