 How to deal with online abuse or harassment Many human rights defenders around the world use social media to make their voices heard. However, they experience online harassment and threats from people who oppose their work. These threats are used to frighten human rights defenders and make them voiceless online. This is a growing problem. Even if you have not experienced online harassment, it is important to know what appropriate steps you should take to address it and to protect yourself and those close to you. How to respond In some instances, it may be appropriate to contact the harasser and tell them to stop. Do not allow anyone else to contact them on your behalf. Do not respond with aggression or any action that might be considered abuse, but tell the harassers you are not to be contacted or harassed in this way. In other situations, it may be preferable not to contact the harasser, but to report their conduct immediately. How to report Do not delete the record of harassment, but keep as much of the evidence as possible from email records to chat logs. For example, take a screenshot of any social media pages where harassment appears showing the date, time, and the name of the social media. Save it as a PDF file and keep it in a safe place. Do not forget to record the IP address if possible. Immediately complain to the appropriate parties and ask service providers such as Facebook, Twitter to take abusive content down. Consult law enforcement in your country for additional guidance. However, keep in mind that making a case can take up a time and the costs can be prohibitive. Protect yourself from future abuse. Although it may not be possible to avoid all forms of online abuse, there are key measures that all human rights defenders should take to minimize opportunities for attackers to cause harm. Here are some steps you can take. Number one, block or ignore unwanted users from your social media. Number two, be cautious of uploading your personal photos and family on your social media. Number three, make your social media ID and email address as non-gender specific as possible. Number four, as online harassment can lead to real world threats, do not post your personal information such as your contact numbers or addresses to your social media accounts. Check your privacy settings and social media to review who can see your personal information. Number five, if you have been on social media for many years, review historical posts and remove anything you would not wish to see misused. Number six, use caution when accepting friend requests or follow requests on social media. Even if you are accepting friend requests from someone you recognize, it is wise to verify their identity by contacting them through another form of communication before accepting the request. Number seven, always use a strong, unique password for every online account. Attackers could hack into your online accounts and use them to harm your reputation. When possible, it is best to use two-factor authentication.