“I would have loved an agenda like this when I started, to know where to begin my research. The domains of the agenda really help focus researchers and advocates,” said Dr. Nyx McLean, chair of research and ethics at Eduvos, during the webinar launch of the Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) Shared Research Agenda on 19 September 2024.
The Shared Research Agenda on TFGBV is now available online in English, Spanish, French and Arabic, following 18 months of co-creation between the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), Association for Progressive Communications (APC), UN Women and the Global Partnership to End Online Abuse and Harassment, with input from over 500 experts in the field.
Drawing on collective expertise, the TFGBV Shared Research Agenda outlines research priorities for the next five to 10 years to ensure fair, effective and relevant research on TFGBV. The agenda was developed through a comprehensive, six-step iterative process that included opportunities for feedback from over 500 experts. Its recommendations serve as a guide for stakeholders to advocate for more and better resources to address knowledge gaps and build effective programmes to respond to and prevent TFGBV.
Reflections from the panel: How can the TFGBV Shared Research Agenda be best used?
A well-attended webinar on 19 September marked the official launch of this groundbreaking report. With over 1,200 registrants, the event underscored the growing demand for platforms to discuss the rapidly evolving realities of TFGBV, to establish effective strategies, and to strengthen advocacy efforts.
Moderated by Raphaelle Rafin, programme specialist for VAW data and research at UN Women’s Ending Violence against Women (EVAW) Section, the panel of experts explored key findings of the study, shared how the agenda informs their work, and discussed how it can advance TFGBV prevention and response. “Having a collective vision of where we have gaps and where we want to go is a significant step for the whole movement,” explained Hera Hussein, founder and CEO of CHAYN, a global non-profit focused on addressing gender-based violence online.
Kalliopi Mingeirou, chief of the EVAW Section at UN Women, noted that the Shared Research Agenda aligns with a global framework that prioritises TFGBV. She highlighted the inclusion of technology and innovation’s impact on gender equality within the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), as well as discussions at the Summit of the Future regarding women’s safety in digital spaces. These alignments underscore the importance of a coordinated global approach to governance on TFGBV.
Benedetta Musillo, senior social development adviser and deputy team leader in the Research and Evidence Division at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), discussed measures taken by the UK and its partners to address TFGBV, and how the Agenda guides these initiatives. These include legal frameworks, the "safety by design" approach with tech companies, and services for survivors that are free and accessible.
Cindy Southworth, head of Women’s Safety at Meta, emphasised the Agenda’s role in TFGBV prevention and highlighted private sector efforts to reduce abusive behaviour. She shared examples such as warning screens for potentially harmful online comments, which result in users editing or deleting content 50% of the time, and platforms registering on StopNCII.org to prevent non-consensual image sharing.
Inclusive strategies to eradicate TFGBV
Panellists underscored how the Shared Research Agenda holds significance for their work. The Agenda prioritises prevention and response research for underrepresented communities, aiming to create safer online spaces for users and survivors. “Survivor-inspired strategies are essential. We need to bring marginalised voices to light and develop strategies for staying safe,” explained Dr. Nyx McLean. McLean emphasised the need for including transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse individuals in TFGBV research to ensure an intersectional approach that acknowledges the unequal impacts of TFGBV.
Hera Hussein also highlighted the importance of a decolonial and intersectional lens to understand how TFGBV manifests differently across regions. For example, while Western discussions may focus on issues like nudity, communities in the Middle East and South Asia often experience TFGBV without explicit sexual content, such as non-consensual image sharing.
The final commitments and takeaways from the panel demonstrated a collective will to continue developing strategies and initiatives through the TFGBV community of practice. Panellists emphasised the importance of pulling more stakeholders – especially men and private sector actors – into the conversation and continuing the momentum toward a world free of violence, both online and offline.