What is Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and how does it appear differently in Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) contexts?
TFGBV can be defined as “an act of violence perpetrated by one or more individuals that is committed, assisted, aggravated and amplified in part or fully by the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), (e.g. the Internet, personal computers and smartphones) or digital media, against a person on the basis of their gender” (UNFPA).
UN Women Humanitarian work – Za’atari Refugee Camp, Jordan
The root causes of the nexus of TFGBV and CRSV are inherently tied to the same factors driving both separately. They are multi-faceted and inter-related, and include: misogyny, objectification & degradation of certain groups of people based on identity, harmful gender norms, unequal power dynamics, structural inequalities, and insufficient regulation and protective measures taken by technology companies.
Some root causes include:
- Gender bias and gender inequality in the design of digital technologies
- Digital harassment, particularly targeting women and girls
- Pre-existing violence manifested with ICTs
- Social and political propaganda targeting specific groups
Factors that aggravate technology-facilitated violence in CRSV settings include:
- Political, economic and social inequality
- Poverty and economic scarcity
- Extreme poverty or economic crises
- Climate change and competition for resources
- Lack of accountability in cyberspace
- Use of digital surveillance and manipulation to influence behaviour and control populations
CRSV can affect everyone, women, children and persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) are disproportionately impacted by this type of violence ( U.S. Department of State ) ( UN Women ). Intersecting forms of discrimination based on disability, religion, caste, ethnicity, race, age, class, and rural or urban residency, that are directly or indirectly linked to conflict ( Amnesty International ), can exacerbate risks to CRSV.
Those vulnerable to TFCRSV are primarily persons who are online, including, but not limited to
- Children and young people, due to their expanding digital presence to access information, connect to peers and use tech for learning ( Rutgers ) ( UN Women ). Young women and girls are disproportionately affected, whereby 58 percent of girls and young women have experienced some form of online harassment ( Plan International ).
- Women in public life, human rights defenders, activists, journalists and lawmakers , who face increased rates of violence as a result of their work. ( UN Women ). UNESCO has reported that 73 percent of women journalists experienced online violence in the course of their professional lives. ( UNESCO ). Unlike men in prominent positions, who are targeted primarily for their policies, women are more often subjected to abuse because of their gender, appearance, and their choice to go beyond traditional gender roles. (Rutgers)
- LGBTQI+ people are more likely to experience both TFGBV and offline forms o violence linked to TFGBV, according to a study conducted by Rutgers, whereby media platforms amplify hostility towards this group and ensuing persecution and shaming. (Rutgers)
As seen in Ukraine and neighboring countries, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPS) who use websites and social media to find shelter, job opportunities and basic necessities are at increased risks of being targeted by criminal networks for labour and sexual exploitation, through false offers of employment and other services. ( Europol, 2022 )
Definitions/Forms of TFGBV in CRSV Contexts
Cyberbullying
A form of online harassment pertaining to the constant and intentional infliction of damage through digital technologies to undermine the victims’ self-esteem (Digital Violence Terms) (Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence: An Overview).
Cyberstalking
Persistent, unwanted and/or threatening surveillance, contact and/or pursuit by technological means. Cyberstalking can turn to offline stalking and vice versa.
FAQs on Trolling, Stalking, Doxxing, and other Forms of Violence against Women in the Digital Age
Cybermob
A large group of online attackers who threaten, insult and verbally abuse the victims, often in an organised coordinated manner
“Being Ourselves is Too Dangerous” – WHRDs and LGBTQI Activists in Thailand
Documenting/Broadcasting Sexual Assault
The recording and sometimes dissemination of sexual assault imagesresulting in an additional form of sexual violence against the victim/survivor.
Image-Based Sexual Abuse
Private sexual images that have been created and/or distributed, often by ex-partners, without the consent of the person featured in them; a practice colloquially known as “revenge porn”. It also includes threats to create or share these images
Online Impersonation
Creating a fake profile and assuming someone’s identity for nefarious purposes, including destroying someone’s reputation or threatening their safety
Sextortion
A type of electronic blackmail pertaining to the demand for money, sex/sex acts, or additional explicit images in exchange for not exposing intimate images or private information
Synetic Media
Also known as “Shallowfake” and “Deepfake”, a manipulated image or video, often done with editing software and Artificial Intelligence; attaching one person’s face with another person’s body, making it appear as though people are engaging in sexual activity they never engaged in.
UN Frameworks
UN has developed various frameworks and resolutions addressing issues related to online violence and digital development.
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 78/L.49 (2024) focuses on seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development.
Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 11 UN 2.0 (2023) embodies the Secretary-General’s vision of a revitalised United Nations family driven by a progressive culture and emphasises the importance of building digital capacity, transforming an organisation’s technologies, skills and processes towards digitally enabled solutions that improve connectivity, service delivery, stakeholder collaboration, engagement and decision-making.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2713 (2023) raises concerns about terrorist groups’ strategic use of ICTs, including the Internet and social media and urges Member States to collaborate with the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia (GFRS) to prevent Al-Shabaab’s exploitation of social media for criminal activities. It encourages the GFRS to develop a communication strategy and outreach mechanism to co
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2686 (2023) expresses deep concern at instances of violence fuelled by hate speech, misinformation and disinformation, including through social media platforms.
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 77/150 (2022) emphasises the importance of implementing science, technology, and innovation strategies that specifically promote the empowerment of women and girls and reduce the gender digital divide. This resolution underlines the need for capacity-development policies and sustainable support at national and local levels to enhance the impact of initiatives such as the International Girls in ICT Day and the Equals Partnership that aim to promote the equal participation of women and girls in the digital age. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/189 (2022) stresses the importance of ICTs in international sustainable development.
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/186 (2022) recognises the potential of the Internet and other ICTs in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and aiding victims. It emphasises the need for enhanced law enforcement cooperation to address challenges arising from the rapid development of these technologies, while expressing concern over the misuse of the Internet and ICTs by traffickers to facilitate human trafficking. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 70/1 (2015) highlights the importance of the proliferation of ICT, along with global interconnectedness, to potentially significantly enhance human progress, close the digital divide, and foster the development of knowledge societies.
Roadmap for Digital Cooperation (2020) outlines a comprehensive framework for advancing global digital cooperation. It highlights the need for universal digital connectivity, digital public goods, inclusion, human rights, and trust and security to harness technology for sustainable development and address the digital divide.
The Framework for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Reviews (2019) plays a pivotal role in enhancing the technological and innovation capacities of developing countries through its Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) Review programme. The latter evaluates national science, technology and innovation (STI) systems, refines policies, and integrates STI into national development strategies and international cooperation plans, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
United Nations Field Technology Framework (2018) outlines the strategic vision for advancing ICT in support of UN field operations from 2018 to 2023 by delivering ICT solutions that are rapid, effective, efficient, and responsible, and integrating these core principles into all ICT planning and operations throughout the Framework’s duration.
The UN Secretary-General’s Strategy on New Technologies (2018) aims to define how the UN system will assist in leveraging new technologies to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and to ensure they are in harmony with the principles of the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and International Laws.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2331 (2016) condemns all acts of trafficking, particularly the sale or trade in persons undertaken by ISIL, also known as Da’esh, and expresses its intention to consider targeted sanctions for individuals and entities involved in sexual violence in conflict and in trafficking in persons in areas affected by armed conflict. It also highlights concerns about the criminal exploitation of information and communication technologies, especially the Internet, to facilitate human trafficking, including the sale and trade of persons, by certain terrorist organisations.
