As delivered by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

President Jóhannesson,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Cyberviolence –

The targeting and harassment of people online –

Is on the rise –

And women are more likely than men to be its victims.

This trend –

Of women receiving online abuse because they are women –

Accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic –

It shows no sign of stopping.

The impact on many of the women and girls subjected to this can be terrible.

They may feel physically unsafe –

Lose self-esteem and self-confidence –

Or be mentally or emotionally distressed.

Primary targets include women politicians, journalists, and activists and human rights defenders.

In other words, women who are dedicated to speaking out and improving the lives of others in our societies.

The impact of these crimes is that those women affected may lose the will to contribute to online debate, discussion and activism.

Which is, of course, the very outcome that many of the abusers seek.

This must stop.

And the Council of Europe has provided tools to achieve that.

Just over a year ago, our Expert Group on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence published its General Recommendation No 1 –

On the digital dimension of violence against women.

Drawing from the Istanbul Convention on combatting violence against women more generally –

This specialised recommendation seeks to prevent crimes against women online –

To protect women where such crimes do take place –

And to better enable the prosecution of perpetrators.

By defining different forms of online and technology-facilitated violence against women –

And by ensuring coordinated policies as a response –

This tool is designed to make a real and targeted difference.

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Toutefois, assurer des poursuites efficaces constitue un autre défi essentiel.

Ici, notre Convention de Budapest sur la cybercriminalité –

Et son deuxième protocole additionnel –

Jouent un rôle central et souvent transfontalier.

Ils mettent en place des outils importants pour enquêter, pour obtenir des preuves et pour assurer la coopération internationale nécessaire –

Non seulement en ce qui concerne les crimes commis en ligne, au moyen de nouvelles technologies –

Mais pour toute infraction impliquant des preuves électroniques.

Ces outils – pour lutter contre la cybercriminalité et la violence à l'égard des femmes – sont la référence dans leur domaine.

Il est essentiel de les utiliser tous les deux –

Pour qu'ils puissent se renforcer mutuellement –

Afin de garantir aux femmes l'environnement le plus sûr possible en ligne

Et il est toujours aussi important de se demander quelle est notre efficacité et ce que nous pourrions faire de plus.

Je félicite donc la Présidence islandaise de notre Comité des Ministres pour avoir organisé cette conférence –

Ainsi que le Comité des Parties à la Convention d'Istanbul et le Comité de la Convention sur la cybercriminalité.

Je les remercie pour le sérieux qu'ils attachent à cette question –

Et je suis impatiente d'entendre vos conclusions.