Kenyan Lilian Olivia Fights Gender Cyberbullying

• Lilian Olivia, a gender and technology lawyer from Kenya, is the founder of a non-profit dedicated to combating technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
• Her advocacy was inspired by personal experiences of online harassment, leading her to pursue supporting young women and girls.
• Through the UNITAR "Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa" training programme, Lilian gained valuable skills in project management, cybersecurity and mindfulness that have helped her scale her impact.
• She envisions expanding her initiatives to reach more communities across Africa and influence policy changes to address online violence more effectively.

17 February 2025, Hiroshima, Japan - Lilian Olivia, a gender and technology lawyer from Nairobi, is creating safer digital spaces for women and girls. Currently pursuing her master's degree in law, innovation, and technology in the UK, Lilian is the founder of a non-profit organization in Kenya that is committed to raising awareness and providing solutions to combat online harassment and cyberbullying.

Lilian's passion stems from her own experiences of online abuse and a deep understanding of the challenges women face in the digital world. "I realized that many women in professional spaces experience cyberbullying just for expressing themselves online", she says. This realization drove her to take action and empower others with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves online.

Many victims of online violence are unaware of the legal protections available to them. The evolving landscape of digital threats, including deepfakes and data breaches, further complicates the issue. Nevertheless, Lilian sees these as opportunities to further innovate and educate.

The organization now reaches over 1,000 women and girls, both online and offline, through advocacy and training on online safety, digital literacy and the dangers of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Her work has already inspired other women to safeguard their digital presence. One university student, after attending Lilian's training, realized the importance of strong passwords and data protection - a seemingly small but fundamental lesson in digital security.

The newest project initiative for Lilian's organization is to develop a mobile application that features simplified online safety lessons in local languages, a reporting mechanism that allows users to report harmful content to social media platforms, and anti-cyberbullying algorithms that detect and address harmful online behaviour in real-time.

Lilian hopes to build the app and enhance its capabilities through partnerships with software developers and AI specialists. "We want to create an app for Africans, by Africans - especially by young women", she says.

Lilian's journey took a significant leap when she enrolled in the " UNITAR "Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa" training programme . The programme, funded by the Government and People of Japan, aimed to empower over 7,000 women and youth with in-demand digital skills to meet the 4th Industrial Revolution and foster inclusive economic growth across Africa. It equipped Lilian with crucial skills in project management, cybersecurity and mindfulness - tools she has applied directly to her work. Lilian says that by adopting structured planning techniques, her organization has become more efficient and goal-oriented.

The project management training transformed how we plan and execute initiatives at [my organization]."-Lilian Olivia, founder of a non-profit to combat gender-based cyberbullying and UNITAR alumna, Kenya

Another innovative idea that Lilian took back from the UNITAR experience was the mindfulness techniques. She has now incorporated breathing exercises into her training programmes, before talking about online violence, to create a safe space for participants.

Her participation in the in-person workshop during the mid-term programme review further expanded her network, connecting her with experts from UNITAR, Microsoft and IBM. A highlight of the event was presenting her work to the Japanese ambassador.

Lilian's message to young women is simple:

Always start. Whether you have resources or not, just start." -Lilian Olivia, founder of a non-profit to combat gender-based cyberbullying and UNITAR alumna, Kenya.

When Lilian set up her organization, she did not have enough financial resources. So she leveraged social media to spread awareness and attract volunteers. "Our work started with passion", she says. Lilian believes that individuals can make a difference, starting with their passion, determination and drive to affect change.

In the future, Lilian hopes to expand her organization's reach beyond Nairobi, bringing digital literacy programmes to schools and universities across the country. She is also advocating for stronger policies to address online violence, pushing for updates to Kenya's cybercrime laws. "I want to see the legal system evolve to better address digital threats and ensure that judges and law enforcement understand the nuances of online violence," she says.

As Lilian continues to build, she remains determined to create a safer digital environment for women across Africa. She hopes that her efforts will one day contribute to a larger movement encouraging women to explore careers in technology and cybersecurity.