Note: Press release below in Swahili
(NAIROBI, NEW YORK) — The literary and free expression group PEN America launched the Mwongo wa Mafunzo ya Unyanyasaji Mtandaoni, a Swahili-language manual to support Swahili-speaking journalists, writers, and human rights activists who are facing an unprecedented wave of online abuse. The manual offers practical tools and strategies to defend against such abuse, which PEN America has long argued poses a profound threat to free expression and the freedom to write. The manual is specifically designed for Swahili-speaking journalists and writers in East Africa, including those facing abuse from governments, organized crime, special interest groups, and cyber mobs.
The manual was developed by PEN America in close collaboration with digital security experts, psychologists, and journalists based in Kenya, Tanzania, and across East Africa, including: lead researcher Cecilia Maundu, a broadcast journalist and digital security trainer and the founder of Digital Dada, a podcast aimed at changing the narrative around online abuse; translators and tech policy experts from Digital Agenda for Tanzania Initiative; and editor Lucy Nyasi Kilalo, Editor for Taifa Leo, the only newspaper in Swahili in Kenya.
“Online gender abuse is a major safety concern and it is designed to freeze women out of public debate. In Kenya, at least seven out of ten women journalists have been harassed online in the course of their work. Women trying to speak online get abused immediately. They need the internet to be a safer place where they can express themselves freely. We are proud to have developed this unique Swahili-language Manual, which we hope will empower women journalists to respond to digital attacks and feel collectively supported,” said Cecilia Maundu.
For years, online abuse was dismissed as less harmful than physical violence. But amid a surge in virtual hatred, there is growing recognition that it has a devastating impact on livelihoods, mental health, and freedom of expression and can lead directly to offline violence. The situation is particularly dire for women writers – 73% of women journalists have experienced online abuse, according to global study from UNESCO and ICFJ.
“Online abuse is a deliberate attempt to stifle press freedom and creative expression. As an organization of and for writers, PEN America is committed to working with our partners in East Africa, and around the world to ensure that writers, journalists, artists, and human rights defenders are empowered to defend themselves and continue making their voices heard,” said Viktorya Vilk, program director for digital safety and free expression at PEN America.
The Swahili-language manual complements the English-language guide, published in 2018, which has since formed the foundation of PEN America’s global advocacy against online harassment. The Swahili-language edition is part of a larger project to broaden PEN America’s unique expertise in collaboration with a more global, multilingual audience after the launch of an Arabic version earlier this year, and the Spanish and French languages edition last year.
The manual offers comprehensive guidance and resources on doxing, impersonation, and other abusive tactics. While the content is geared toward writers and journalists, much of the advice and techniques are relevant to anyone facing or witnessing hostility online—especially women and those who identify as members of a marginalized group. It includes:
- A glossary of abusive tactics
- Self-defense strategies, including step-by-step guides to protect from hacking, impersonation, and doxing
- Strategies for response, including leveraging existing tools on social media platforms, building support networks, and safely practicing counterspeech
- Guidelines for allies who want to intervene safely when witnessing online abuse
- Best practices for employers to improve institutional support for staff facing online abuse
The Online Abuse Defense Manual is freely available in Swahili at https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/sw/
About PEN America
Founded in 1922, PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. For more information, see: pen.org
Contact:
[English and Swahili] Cecilia Maundu, Project Manager, Mwongo wa Mafunzo ya Unyanyasaji Mtandaoni and Founder, Digital Dada : [email protected]
[English] Elodie Vialle, Consultant Digital Safety and Free Expression, PEN America : [email protected]
[English] Suzanne Trimel, Communication and Media, PEN America : [email protected]
TOLEO LA KISWAHILI
Mwongozo wa kwanza wa aina yake wa Kiswahili wa Kuwasaidia Wanahabari na Watetezi wa Haki za Kibinadamu katika Afrika ya Mashariki Kutetea Dhidi ya Unyanyasaji na Udhalilishaji Mtandaoni.
- Matumizi yasiyo sahihi ya mtandaoni ni tishio kubwa kwa uhuru wa kujieleza na yanatumiwa kimakusudi kuwatisha, kuwadharau na kuwanyamazisha wanahabari na wanaharakati, hasa wanawake.
- Mwongozo huu unaangazia unyanyasaji wa mtandaoni ambao wanahabari, waandishi na watayarishaji wa maudhui ya wanaozungumza Kiswahili katika Afrika ya Mashariki.
- Mwongozo hutoa mikakati na nyenzo za kipekee za ulinzi wa matumizi yasiyo sahihi mtandaoni, ikijumuisha maandalizi, uwajibu na ushirikiano.
(Nairobi/New York) — Kundi la waandishi na uhuru wa kujieleza la PEN America lilizindua Mwongozo wa Mafunzo ya Unyanyasaji Mtandaoni, mwongozo wa lugha ya Kiswahili ili kusaidia wanahabari, waandishi, na wanaharakati wa haki za binadamu wanaozungumza Kiswahili wanaokabiliwa na wimbi kubwa la unyanyasaji mtandaoni. Mwongozo huu unatoa zana za vitendo na mikakati ya kutetea dhidi ya unyanyasaji kama huo, ambao PEN America imepigania kwa muda mrefu kuwa inaleta tishio kubwa kwa uhuru wa kujieleza na uhuru wa kuandika. Mwongozo huu umeundwa mahsusi kwa ajili ya wanahabari na waandishi wanaozungumza Kiswahili katika Afrika ya Mashariki, ikiwa ni pamoja na wale wanaokabiliwa na unyanyasaji kutoka kwa serikali, uhalifu wa kupangwa, makundi maalum, na makundi ya mtandao..
Mwongozo huu ulitayarishwa na PEN America kwa ushirikiano wa karibu na wataalam wa usalama wa kidijitali, wanasaikolojia, na waandishi wa habari walioko Kenya, Tanzania, na kote Afrika Mashariki, wakiwemo: mtafiti mkuu Cecilia Maundu, mwandishi wa habari na mkufunzi wa usalama wa kidijitali na mwandishi wa Digital Dada, podikasti inayolenga kubadilisha masimulizi kuhusu matumizi yasiyo sahihi ya mtandaoni; watafsiri na wataalamu wa sera za teknolojia kutoka Digital Agenda for Tanzania Initiative; na mhariri Lucy Nyasi Kilalo, Mhariri wa Taifa Leo, gazeti pekee la Kiswahili nchini Kenya.
“Unyanyasaji wa kijinsia mtandaoni ni suala kuu la usalama na umeundwa kuwazuia wanawake wasijadiliwe hadharani. Nchini Kenya, inaaminika wanahabari saba kati ya wanawake kumi wamenyanyaswa mtandaoni huku wakiwa kwenye kazi zao. Wanawake wanaojaribu kuzungumza mtandaoni hunyanyaswa mara moja. Wanahitaji mtandao kuwa mahali salama ambapo wanaweza kujieleza kwa uhuru. Tunajivunia kuandaa Mwongozo huu wa kipekee wa lugha ya Kiswahili, ambao tunatumai utawawezesha wanahabari wanawake kukabiliana na mashambulizi ya kidijitali na kuhisi kuungwa mkono kwa pamoja,” alisema Cecilia Maundu.
Kwa miaka mingi, matumizi yasiyo sahihi ya mtandaoni yalipuuzwa kuwa yenye madhara kidogo kuliko unyanyasaji wa kimwili. Lakini huku kukiwa na ongezeko la chuki za mtandaoni, kuna ongezeko la kutambua kwamba ina athari mbaya kwa maisha, afya ya akili na uhuru wa kujieleza na inaweza kusababisha vurugu moja kwa moja hata nje ya mtandao. Hali ni mbaya zaidi kwa waandishi wanawake ambapo – 73% ya wanahabari wanawake wamepitia unyanyasaji mtandaoni, kulingana na utafiti wa kimataifa kutoka UNESCO na ICFJ.
“Matumizi mabaya ya mtandaoni ni jaribio la makusudi la kukandamiza uhuru wa wanahabari na ubunifu wa kujieleza. Kama shirika linalojihusisha na kwa ajili ya waandishi, PEN America imejitolea kufanya kazi na washirika wetu katika Afrika ya Mashariki, na duniani kote ili kuhakikisha kwamba waandishi, wanahabari, wasanii, na watetezi wa haki za binadamu wanawezeshwa kujitetea na kuendelea kupaza sauti zao, ” alisema Viktorya Vilk, mkurugenzi wa programu kwa usalama wa kidijitali na kujieleza huru wa PEN America.
Mwongozo wa lugha ya Kiswahili unakamilisha mwongozo wa lugha ya Kiingereza, uliochapishwa mwaka 2018, ambao tangu wakati huo umekuwa msingi wa utetezi wa kimataifa wa PEN America dhidi ya unyanyasaji mtandaoni. Toleo la lugha ya Kiswahili ni sehemu lenye mradi mkubwa wa kupanua ubobezi wa kipekee wa PEN America kwa ushirikiano na hadhira ya kimataifa, yenye lugha nyingi baada ya kuzinduliwa kwa toleo la Kiarabu mapema mwaka huu, na toleo la lugha za Kihispania na Kifaransa mwaka jana.
Mwongozo huu unatoa mwongozo pekee na nyenzo za kina kuhusu ufichuzi harabu, uigaji na mbinu zingine za lugha chafu. Ingawa maudhui yanawalenga waandishi na wanahabari, ushauri na mbinu nyingi ni muhimu kwa mtu yeyote anayekabiliwa au kushuhudia uhasama mtandaoni—hasa wanawake na wale wanaojitambulisha kuwa wanachama wa kundi lililotengwa. Hii Inajumuisha:
- Kamusi yenye matamshi machafu
- Mikakati ya kujilinda, ikijumuisha miongozo ya hatua kwa hatua ili kujilinda dhidi ya udukuzi, uigaji na ufichuzi harabu.
- Mikakati ya kukabiliana, ikiwa ni pamoja na kutumia zana zilizopo kwenye mifumo ya mitandao ya kijamii, kuunda mitandao ya usaidizi na kufanya mazoezi ya kukanusha kwa usalama.
- Mwongozo kwa washirika wanaotaka kuingilia kati kwa ajili ya usalama wanaposhuhudia matumizi mabaya ya mtandaoni
- Mbinu bora kwa waajiri ili kuboresha usaidizi wa kitaasisi kwa wafanyakazi wanaokabiliwa na unyanyasaji mtandaoni
Mwongozo wa Ulinzi wa Unyanyasaji Mtandaoni unapatikana bila malipo kwa Kiswahili kupitia https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/sw/
Kuhusu PEN America: Ilianzishwa mwaka wa 1922, PEN America inasimama kwenye makutano ya fasihi na haki za binadamu ili kulinda haki za kujieleza wazi nchini Marekani na duniani kote. Tunatetea uhuru wa uandishi, tukitambua uwezo wa neno kubadilisha ulimwengu. Jifunze zaidi kwenye pen.org
Mawasiliano:
[Kiingereza na Kiswahili] Cecilia Maundu, Meneja wa Mradi, Mwongozo wa Mafunzo ya Unyanyasaji Mtandaoni na mwandishi, Digital Dada : [email protected]
[Kingereza] Elodie Vialle, Mshauri wa Usalama wa Kidijitali na Kujieleza Huru, PEN America : [email protected]
[Kingereza] Suzanne Trimel, Mawasiliano na Vyombo vya Habari, PEN America : [email protected]