Technology facilitated gender based violence in Asia
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF GBV) is rapidly growing in scale however understanding about this phenomenon is patchy, particularly in low and middle income countries. Our work has generated new and important research evidence on TF GBV in Asia.
Technology, including mobile phones, platforms on the internet, tracking and recording devices, and smart appliances in the home, is increasingly being used to facilitate gender-based violence. Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF GBV) is rapidly growing in scale and evolving in form, occurs within and across national borders, and causes substantial physical, mental, economic and social harm to victims. However understanding about this phenomenon is patchy, particularly in low and middle income countries. Despite high uptake of mobile devices and widespread use of social media (for example), there is very little research evidence about TF GBV in Asia upon which to base national and regional policy and practice.
With the support of the UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office, we recently conducted qualitative research to respond to this gap. Our work has generated new and important research evidence on TF GBV in Asia, including information about experiences, impacts, and responses to this form of violence. From August to November 2023, we completed 12 multi-country focus group discussions with representatives from relevant advocacy and stakeholder groups across 15 countries in Asia. Results revealed that women, girls, and LGBTIQ+ people experienced a range of different forms of TF GBV in the region (including image-based abuse, technology-facilitated stalking and harassment, and doxing). Participants reported extensive and serious harms from TF GBV, but that response systems often failed to meet the needs of victim-survivors.
Findings from this research will help guide future TF GBV research in the region and contribute to the design of effective policy, prevention, and response strategies. We recently presented this work to the ASEAN Regional Dialogue and Campaign on Online Gender-Based Violence; the Asian Regional Symposium on Technology Facilitated Gender-based Violence convened by UNFPA, USAID and eSafety Commissioner; and the global Sexual Violence Research Initiate conference in South Africa.