To combat cyber crimes against women, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has inaugurated inaugurated the Digital Shakti Center in collaboration with CyberPeace Foundation.
In a statement released by NCW, it is mentioned that the Digital Shakti Center is a dedicated facility aimed at raising awareness about cyber crimes targeting women and providing essential technical support for registering and addressing complaints.
‘With the alarming rise in cyber crimes such as identity theft, cyber stalking, and sexual exploitation, this initiative is crucial in empowering women to navigate and protect themselves in the digital world,’ it said adding that the centre will offer expert guidance to ensure timely and effective resolution of cyber crime complaints, building on the success of the NCW’s Digital Shakti campaign, which was launched in 2018.’
This campaign has reached millions of women, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to safeguard their digital spaces.
Addressing the inaugural event, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said, ‘There has been a a surge in cyber crime cases in India, rising from 52,974 in 2021 to 65,893 in 2022. The NCW has also observed an increase in complaints related to cyber crimes against women.’
‘In 2023, the Commission registered 608 complaints, accounting for 2.2% of total complaints. As of August 1st, 2024, 386 complaints have been registered, making up 2.5% of the total,’ sharma said.
Further adding she stated that recognizing the urgent need for action, the NCW launched the Digital Shakti campaign in June 2018 to educate women on reporting mechanisms, data privacy, and technology use for their benefit.
The campaign has reached 6.86 lakh netizens through direct sessions and over 2.67 crore individuals online. Building on this momentum, the NCW has now launched the 5th phase of Digital Shakti in collaboration with CyberPeace Foundation.
