The rapid evolution of information and communication technologies facilitates the creation of new forms of violence against women and girls, such as non-consensual photos or videos, exploitation, sexualised bullying, cyber flashing, technology-facilitated stalking, online psychological violence and economic abuse.
On 10 March, to discuss this digital phenomenon, the SYNERGY Network against Gender-based and Domestic Violence held an international human rights conference focusing on the digital dimension of violence against women. Building upon the first General Recommendation on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention by its monitoring body, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), this online conference focused on the ways to combat online and technology-facilitated violence.
This eighth conference of the SYNERGY Network involved over 100 participants from 14 countries, 10 speakers and multiple international organisations. The event consisted of presentations by a panel of leading gender experts, as well as parallel working group discussions where participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas and successful practices for combatting these challenges effectively.
This event was co-organised by the Active Citizens Funds of Greece and Cyprus, in cooperation with the Council of Europe Gender Equality Division and the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security under the EEA and Norway Grants.
The SYNERGY Network brings together governmental and non-governmental stakeholders from different countries cooperating to prevent and combat gender-based and domestic violence under the EEA and Norway Grants.
The Council of Europe cooperates with the EEA/Norway Grants as an International Partner Organisation and is the main international partner of the SYNERGY Network.
Read more:
- Article: Calls for a holistic approach to combating digital violence by Vibeke Hoem, Kilden, 25 April 2022
- Guidance: General Recommendation No.1 on the digital dimension of violence against women by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), 20 October 2021
- Treaty: The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention)