A woman communicates on her smartphone. Photo via MaxPixel / Creative Commons Zero – CC0. This article is part of UPROAR, a Small Media initiative that is urging governments to address digital rights challenges at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). In Namibia, amid the fourth wave of feminist uprisings in the technology age, activists flocked to social media platforms like Twitter to organize an online campaign to legalize abortion. As part of the campaign, feminist activists launched and disseminated an online petition calling for the legalization of abortion, gaining more than 61,000 signatures as of August 14. With about 2.2 million citizens, this is nearly 3 percent of Namibia's population. The campaign drew waves of attacks against feminist activists, primarily from Christian and conservative communities who believe that women should abstain from sex and serve jail time for abortion. But as a result of the petition, parliament has agreed to discuss Nambia's outdated laws governing abortion. The petition’s enormous success stems from a long fight, explains Merja Wolf, a feminist and editor-in-chief of the Informanté. “I’m constantly under attack, every day is a fight on Twitter,” said Wolf, who also told Global Voices that feminist activists face online harassment on a daily basis. Twitter may allow users to block or report perpetrators of online harassment, but these tools are not always sufficient to mitigate harm, and studies have shown that women are more likely to disproportionately suffer from online harassment on Twitter than men. For Wolf, a personal line was crossed when a troll went after her kids, causing her to want to step away from Twitter. “But trolls and misogynists have to realize one thing,” she continues, “It’s not just me they are facing. If I leave Twitter, there’s still loads of others of us using it. We came in large numbers,” Wolf said. She decided to stay on Twitter, despite the daily harassment she and other feminists must endure in their fight to legalize abortion in Namibia. However, Wolf recently temporarily deactivated her account for personal reasons unrelated to politics. Until now, abortion has been regulated under the Abortion and Sterilization Act of South Africa from 1975. It is only legal under the following conditions: When the pregnancy endangers the woman’s life or her physical or mental health; when the child might suffer from disability; when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest; or when a woman is a person with a disability or a mental health condition that prevents comprehension of what pregnancy entails. Christian, conservative communities in Nambia strongly opposed the petition, arguing instead to keep Nambia’s abortion laws firmly in place. Members of these communities launched a petition to reject the legalization of abortion in Namibia, as well. Netizen Bashupi promoted the petition against legalizing abortion in Namibia: namibia government : Pro-Life Namibia “Rejecting the Legalisation of Abortion in Namibia” https://t.co/EdGbI5iFGD via @UKChange Please help save the life of the unborn from evil spirits forcing government to legalize abortion. Sign up and save a life. — Bashupi B Maloboka (@bbmaloboka2) July 30, 2020 The NamibianNamibia's biggest daily newspaper, featured several tweets highlighting the anti-abortion movement in Nambia, and their Twitter account reflects some of the more conservative values regarding abortion held by members Namibian society: ‘NO TO ABORTION’ … Pro-lifers today protested in Windhoek’s city centre against calls to legalise abortion in the country. The group chanted “We choose life” as they held up posters stating that abortion “kills children”, and deeming the act “murder”. Video: Arlana Shikongo pic.twitter.com/J6tmZrTxBr — The Namibian (@TheNamibian) July 2, 2020 In response, Abigail Buitumelo posted the petition to legalize abortion: https://t.co/VKjyn0YSg4 — Abigail Buitumelo (@virovirina) July 2, 2020 But Twitter use D'mbukushu fired back: Arrest whoever does abortion!!!! — D'mbukushu (@donfranklin_na) July 2, 2020 And Yvonne tweeted prayers for those who even bring up the idea of abortion: Almighty hear our prayers don't allow this to succeed my Lord,please forgive those whom bring up this ideas to your Nation in Jesus name,NO to Abortion NO#NoToAbortionInNamibia — Yvonne????? (@YvonneJosef2) July 2, 2020 Netizen “Refuse2sink95″ made an ironic comment about those who want to legalize abortion: You legalize ABORTION and keep celebrating your BIRTHDAY… ? — Refuse2sink95 ♋ (@An_thropologist) July 2, 2020 And netizen Alie Epata had an alternative suggestion to abortion: Stay away from sex to avoid creating an unwanted life. Use contraceptives if you can’t stay away.