27/11/2025
Held during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the 5th Webinar explored how digital spaces are increasingly weaponized to harass, intimidate, and silence women and girls.
Drawing on research, field experience, and regional case studies, speakers outlined the rising threats, from targeted online abuse to deepfakes and other AI-driven harms, intensified by low digital literacy and harmful social norms.
The discussion examined how these forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence undermine safety, dignity, and participation, especially for women in public roles such as journalists, activists, and political leaders.
Panelists stressed that individuals cannot and should not be left to navigate these risks alone, pointing to persistent gaps in platform governance, moderation practices, and survivor support.
Experts highlighted practical solutions, including integrating digital safety into school curricula, strengthening legal and reporting mechanisms, enhancing platform accountability, and expanding psychosocial and community-based support systems. Country examples of coordinated cyber-response structures and hotlines demonstrated promising approaches.
The session concluded with a call for coordinated, multisector action, across governments, platforms, media, civil society, and international organizations, to build safer, more trustworthy digital spaces for women and girls during the 16 Days campaign and far beyond.
