A Safer Digital Public Sphere: Addressing Gender-Based Cyber Violence.

 



EWMD recently collaborated with the UK Mission to the European Union, The Brussels Binder, and COLLABWITH to host the annual summer event, "A Safer Digital Public Sphere: Addressing Gender-Based Cyber Violence."

This event addressed the critical issue of gender-based cyber violence, featuring insights from notable speakers and moderators including Asha Allen, Shada Islam, Myrthe Bovendeaard, David Wright, Michela Palladino, Nadine Nembach, Dr. Audrey-Flore Ngomsik, and Jara Pascual.

Nadine Nembach, Co-President of EWMD International, posed a powerful question: "What if violence is happening online, for no one to see, permanently, day and night? And you can’t even post about it, to not violate the perpetrator’s rights?"

Key Highlights:
  • Gender Disparities: Intimate image abuse and ‘deep fake’ technology disproportionately affect women and girls, with approximately 1 in 2 young women experiencing gender-related cyber violence.
  • MPs’ Experiences: A 2018 survey revealed that 85% of women Parliamentarians across 45 European countries faced psychological violence, with nearly 50% receiving threats of rape or physical harm. Alarmingly, only one in four reported these incidents to the police.
  • Societal Impact: The safety of young girls online reflects broader societal issues. An intersectional approach is needed to protect victims, restrict perpetrators, and educate from a young age about rights and safety.
  • Platform Interventions: Technological solutions and stricter platform policies are being developed, though broader adoption is needed to effectively combat harmful content. David Wright highlighted the role of his charity in helping victims by removing illicit content from the web.
  • Platform Policies: Major platforms are adapting community rules to combat harmful content, with human teams providing necessary context and actions, as highlighted by Jara Pascual during her moderation.
As part of the Brussels Declaration initiative, EWMD is dedicated to ensuring a safer digital space for everyone. This initiative aims to achieve gender equality in Europe and address violence against women both online and offline.

Thank you to the UK Mission to the European Union and all participants for contributing to this important conversation.

Let’s keep striving for gender equality together!

For more information about the Brussels Declaration, visit this page.