Tech-facilitated gender-based violence
Tech-facilitated Gender-Based Violence Shared Research Agenda Report
The TFGBV research agenda report developed by SVRI, the Global Partnership for Actions for Gender Based Online Harassment and Abuse, Association of Progressive Communications and the UN Women, conveys sets of research priorities that can help in developing effective interventions targeted at addressing the global problem of TFGBV.
The Foundational Meeting of Expert Group hosted by UN Women in 2023 defined TFGBV (also referred to as, Tech-Facilitated Violence against Women, TFVAW), as “any act, that is committed, assisted, aggravated or amplified by the use of ICTs or other digital tools, that results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological, social, political or economic harm, or other infringements of rights and freedoms”.
With the increasing forms of TFGBV, including doxxing, intimate image abuse, online harassment and many more, it has become a significant global issue that undermines gender equality and disrupts human rights and social development worldwide. There is also a growing interest from global leaders in understanding and addressing TFGBV.
Bridging the TFGBV Knowledge/Innovation Gap
As an organization, leveraging gaps and evidences of TFGBV prevalence and increasing gender inequality, programs are targeted at prioritizing research to close the knowledge gap; collaborations with key stakeholders and organizations in accelerating response systems and channels; advocating for AI safety and prompt regulatory policies; and knowledge sharing and documentation on the trends of AI, harms, impact and solutions.
Activities
AI Workshops
In February, we collaborated with Humane Intelligence, USA to organize a workshop in Lagos, Nigeria, bringing together Civil Society Organization, government officials and FemTech companies. The Nigeria workshop provides a focused, trauma-informed platform for addressing TFGBV with specific emphasis on Image-Based Abuse (IBA), or Intimate Image Abuse (IIA) in the Nigerian context.
Expert Roundtable
In providing insights on how to leverage STEM in addressing issues of gender-based violence with focus on TFGBV, we participated in a virtual expert roundtable organized by EPFL EssentialTech Centre.
Stakeholder Engagement
Participated in the stakeholder expert workshop organized by EPFL EssentialTech Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland on the theme ‘Tech and Gendered Violence: Harm and Hope, Building Bridges’. As part of the workshop activities, our Director, Nkechika Ibe moderated a session on ‘Bias in Technology and its role in GBV.