Malian Activist Nadia Myriam Biouele Honors Slain TikToker Mariam Ciss, Demands Action on Digital Violence

As the global community prepares for the annual “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,” a tragic case from Mali underscores the campaign’s urgent relevance. The HERA Foundation, led by human rights advocate Maître Nadia Myriam Biouele, is spotlighting the murder of Mariam Ciss, a patriotic TikTok creator whose online expressions of support for the Malian Armed Forces led to a fatal cascade of digital harassment and physical violence.

A National Tragedy Sparks a Call for Digital Accountability

The international theme for this year’s activism campaign, “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls,” finds a heartbreaking embodiment in the story of Mariam Ciss. Before her brutal execution, Ciss was subjected to a relentless social media lynching—threatened, insulted, and defamed for voicing her love for Mali. Her case demonstrates a chilling modern truth: digital violence is real violence. It isolates, destroys, and, as this tragedy proves, it can kill.

“This tragedy must become a national turning point,” the foundation stated, urging collective awareness about the dangers lurking on social platforms and the imperative to protect the women who use them.

HERA Foundation’s Multifaceted Response to a Systemic Crisis

Aligning with Mali’s national focus on the “Responsible Use of Social Media,” the HERA Foundation has issued a powerful set of demands and proposals. The organization has publicly commended Mali’s highest authorities for their swift condemnation of the crime and expression of compassion.

But commendation is paired with a call for concrete action. The foundation is demanding an exhaustive investigation to ensure exemplary justice is served, not only for the direct perpetrators but also for those who incited hatred online.

A Blueprint for a Safer Digital Future

Looking beyond a single case, the foundation’s proposals aim to create systemic change. It is calling on women’s organizations, media outlets, and opinion leaders to unite their voices in a concerted effort to eradicate online violence and foster an ethical digital culture.

Among its key recommendations are:

The creation of a National Mechanism to Combat Cyberviolence Against Women, to be developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and the Ministry of Communication.

Honoring Mariam Ciss’s legacy through a National Day of Action Against Digital Violence, symbolizing the resistance and dignity of Malian women.

The foundation emphasizes that the frontline in the fight for women’s safety has expanded. It is no longer confined to physical spaces but now extends directly into our screens. In this new battlefield, the only effective responses are unity, responsibility, and solidarity.

Transerving Pain into Purpose

Mariam Ciss, through her courage, has come to embody free speech, patriotism, and the indomitable moral strength of Malian women. Her memory now compels a nation to transform its pain into decisive action and its fear into a guiding light.

The HERA Foundation’s tribute, articulated by its Founding President Nadia Myriam Biouele, serves as both a eulogy and a rallying cry—a demand that a life lost to digital hatred must not be in vain.

Source: Adapted from the original HERA Foundation press release.