SRHR Equity Network Africa (SENA)’s Post

The African Community of Practice on Gender and Health webinar on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) brought together experts and advocates to address a critical issue of our digital era. The discussion highlighted that while technology provides great opportunities, it also presents new challenges, particularly for vulnerable groups. Key takeaways include: ✔️Online violence is often underreported due to low awareness and distrust in reporting mechanisms, masking its true prevalence.  ✔️Many digital platforms prioritize profit over safety, using a "one-size-fits-all" approach that neglects the diverse needs of users.  ✔️Digital platforms are not fully accountable for the violence occurring on their platforms. ✔️Reporting mechanisms are often inadequate, slow, or non-responsive, placing the burden of safety on victims rather than on the platforms.  ✔️It's essential to enforce inclusive laws, improve reporting tools, enhance privacy settings, and use AI to prevent abuse.  ✔️Direct engagement with marginalized groups is crucial for creating effective solutions tailored to their unique needs. Let’s continue the conversation and drive change. Watch the full webinar here: https://go.unu.edu/kjm6z  #UNU #GlobalHealth #GenderEquality #EndTFGBV #SafeOnlineSpaces #DigitalInclusion United Nations University - IIGH | United Nations University | University of the Western Cape | PATH | Pandemic Action Network | Eduvos

Important resources for gender-based violence response and mitigation are people who can share information on the subject and people who can talk to women experiencing violence and advise them on how to act. When actual workers and experts are not available close by, technology can address this lack with live chats powered by artificial intelligence and smart apps containing information and guidance. #womensafehouse #endgbv #endviolence #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #notodomesticviolence #enddomesticviolence #speakout  #awareness #endabuse

The Rise of Digital Violence Against Women Did you know that 1 in 3 women worldwide experience some form of online harassment or abuse? From cyberstalking to non-consensual sharing of private photos, digital spaces are becoming increasingly unsafe for women. Digital violence is real violence, and it leaves lasting scars on mental health, personal safety, and even professional opportunities. Through the ESSENTIAL Project, an Erasmus+ initiative, we’re addressing this issue by creating handbooks, guidelines, and building supportive online communities for women. Together, we can create a safer, more inclusive digital world. This project is co-funded by the European Union 🇪🇺 It’s time to take action: 🔒 Advocate for stronger laws. 📚 Educate yourself about online safety. 🤝 Support victims by amplifying their voices. #EndDigitalViolence #OnlineSafety #WomenEmpowerment #ESSENTIALProject

With the shift towards online interactions, cyberbullying has emerged as a significant concern, especially post-pandemic. The HBSC study emphasises the urgency of addressing virtual peer violence through comprehensive approaches. Explore strategies for fostering digital resilience among youth. #CyberbullyingIntervention #OnlineWellbeing https://bit.ly/hbsc-vol2

According to the Economist Intelligence: EIU, 85% of women have personally experienced or witnessed digital violence against women. This rising threat, known as technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), includes cyberstalking, doxxing, sextortion, revenge porn and deepfakes. Let's be clear: virtual violence is violence, online abuse is abuse, and digital crimes are crimes. (Learn more at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)'s The Virtual is Real website: https://lnkd.in/dyYk4sXa.) Tune in to a virtual event tomorrow at 11:30am PT / 2:30pm ET to hear from governments, civil society organizations, women political leaders, and other experts and advocates dedicated to advancing women’s political participation and leadership and addressing TFGBV. Hosted by U.S. Department of State Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues with Women Leading Effective and Accountable Democracy in the Digital Age (Women LEAD) initiative, and members of the Global Partnership for Action. Register: https://lnkd.in/epBw65cZ #genderbasedviolence #TFGBV #genderequity #genderequality

I was honored to be on this panel with some brilliant minds and innovators at the Tech in Gov Conference recently. Full video on the discussion into how technology can help to curb domestic violence is in the link.

What should you know about the INHOPE Summit? This annual event unites key stakeholders from across the industry with a common mission: to share expertise and strategies for the swift removal of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from the internet. How do we make this possible? By offering a space for collaboration among diverse parties, encouraging open discussions on critical issues, and promoteing innovative prevention initiatives. Over the years, influential actors like Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok have taken the stage, offering invaluable insights and advancements in online safety. This year's INHOPE Summit theme is "Knowledge is Power, Reporting is Action." Discover more and learn how you can get involved👉https://bit.ly/3DiWusK #righttoreport #conference #childsafety #digitalsafety #collaboration #partnership #childprotection #reportingisaction #UnitedAgainstCSAM #contentmoderation #whatis #article #onlinesafety #invest #bigtech #sponsoredbyMicrosoft #nyc

A report from The Open University has pulled back the curtain on the realities of online violence and abuse against women and girls in Scotland - the report's data points to nothing short of an endemic. #Tech | #News | #OnlineViolence | #TheOpenUniversity

Preventing technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) often falls on survivors, but systemic inequalities within flawed institutions are to blame. Technology platforms have a responsibility to condemn TFGBV and ensure politically active women’s online safety. #NotTheCost #16DaysofActivism #WomenInPolitics https://bit.ly/4156iVr

We were honored to join partners at the "ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Online Protection 2024" last week to discuss and exchange ideas on creating safer online spaces for children. We emphasized the connections between violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC), both online and offline. Despite often intersecting within the same families, policies typically address them separately. However, research shows that frontline workers, including crisis services, police, health professionals, and social workers, frequently respond to both issues in practice. We also discussed findings from the UN Multi-Country Study on Men and Violence, which surveyed over 10,000 men and 3,000 women across six countries in Asia-Pacific. The study revealed that half of the men who committed rape did so for the first time as teenagers, with 12% being under 15, often due to a sense of sexual entitlement. It also found that childhood experiences of violence and social norms around dominance strongly influence their use of violence against women. Understanding these intersections is key to developing holistic responses and solutions that address the root causes, challenge harmful gender norms, and create safer environments for women and children.