Delhi: NCW launches Digital Shakti Centre to combat cyber crimes against women
Aug 05, 2024
New Delhi [India], August 5 : The National Commission for Women inaugurated the Digital Shakti Center to combat cyber crimes against women on Monday.
The National Commission for Women (NCW), in collaboration with CyberPeace Foundation, announced the inauguration of the "Digital Shakti Center" at its premises. The centre was officially inaugurated by Chairperson Rekha Sharma.
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, cyberstalking, and sexual exploitation, this initiative is crucial in empowering women to navigate and protect themselves in the digital world.
The center 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.
During the launch the Chairperson mentioned, "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 percent of total complaints. As of August 1st, 2024, 386 complaints have been registered, making up 2.5 percent of the total."
The Chairperson further said 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.
"This initiative has empowered women to stand against cyber crimes and reclaim their digital spaces. 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," she added.
Major Vineet, Founder and Global President of CyberPeace was also present at the inauguration.
The establishment of the Digital Shakti Center marks a significant advancement in creating a safer online environment for women across India.
