How to Tackle Cyber GBV: Join the 3rd Global Symposium on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)
As online spaces become an extension of daily life, digital platforms have also become battlegrounds for gender-based violence (GBV). From cyberbullying and doxxing to online harassment and deepfake abuse, technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is a growing threat to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide.
In response, the Third Global Symposium on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence—hosted by UNFPA in partnership with Global Affairs Canada and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)—will take place on March 6-7, 2025, ahead of the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69).
The hybrid event aims to bring together governments, UN agencies, GBV practitioners, academics, civil society organizations, and the private tech sector to address global priorities in ending TFGBV. The symposium builds on the discussions from previous gatherings in 2022 and 2024, focusing on coordinated action and knowledge-sharing across sectors.
The Intersection of TFGBV and SRHR
TFGBV is not just an issue of online safety—it’s a direct threat to gender equality and SRHR. Digital violence discourages women and marginalized communities from expressing themselves, accessing information on sexual and reproductive health, and engaging in decision-making spaces. According to UN Women, 58% of women and girls worldwide have experienced online harassment, hate speech, or violence. In Bangladesh, a 2019 study by ActionAid found that 80% of women internet users had faced cyber harassment, with many choosing to leave digital spaces rather than report abuse.
Online sexual harassment, deepfake pornography, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images violate personal rights, often leading to mental health distress, social isolation, and real-world violence. For adolescent girls, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women activists, these risks are even higher, creating barriers to their right to safety, health, and free expression.
Urgency for Multi-Sectoral Action
With rising cases of cybercrimes targeting women, the Third Global Symposium on TFGBV provides a critical platform for global action. As UNFPA encourages partners to share details across networks, the symposium will explore solutions to tackle digital abuse through policy reforms, tech-sector accountability, and survivor-centered responses.
To join the conversation, follow #TFGBVSymposium25 #EndTFGBV and CLICK HERE to register.
Source: APC