Teaming up to tackle gender-based violence.

Teaming up to tackle gender-based violence.

Tackling Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in India

Gender-based violence facilitated by technology has emerged as a critical issue globally, and India is no exception. Adolescent girls and young women are increasingly vulnerable to various forms of online harassment, cyberbullying, stalking, and exploitation, widening the digital gender gap. To address this pressing challenge, we propose a comprehensive 18-month program aimed at protecting and empowering adolescent girls in India.

The Problem

The prevalence of technology-facilitated GBV has increased manyfold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As social interactions moved predominantly online, and women’s participation in online interactions increased, there was a noticeable uptick in rates of technology-facilitated GBV. The patriarchal and conservative social norms that contribute to offline violence have translated into online spaces and ICT use. Even when women and girls have access to the internet or mobile phones, it is usually restricted by husbands and fathers who maintain control of household technology and heavily surveil their usage. This also contributes to lower reporting rates, as survivors fear that reporting their experiences of violence will lead to further restrictions of ownership and usage. Male dominance in online spaces and gendered cultural norms often make the internet inhospitable for women and girls. Just the idea of independent women making their opinions known online, regardless of the content, challenges the patriarchal social structure in India and makes them more vulnerable to violence. This also contributes to women and girls self-censoring online. Women tend to only communicate with people they know online, use more private settings for communication, and are more selective about posting online—yet these actions create a barrier to being able to fully exercise their rights and freedoms in online spaces.

The Opportunity

Despite the challenges, there is a growing recognition of the need to address technology-facilitated GBV in India. The government, civil society organisations, and grassroots initiatives have started initiatives to raise awareness, provide support services, and advocate for policy reforms. Our proposed program aims to leverage this momentum and build on existing efforts to create a safer and more inclusive digital environment for adolescent girls and young women. By addressing tech-facilitated GBV, we not only safeguard women's safety and well-being in digital spaces but also pave the way for them to fully participate in the digital world. Closing this divide is essential to ensure that women have equal opportunities to harness the transformative power of digital technology, access educational and economic resources, and participate meaningfully in social and civic life. Thus, curtailing tech-facilitated GBV is not only a matter of safety but also a prerequisite for achieving gender equality and empowerment in the digital age.

Our Vision

Our vision is to create a society where adolescent girls and young women in India can harness the power of technology to thrive, express themselves freely, and pursue their aspirations without fear of harassment or violence. We envision a future where digital platforms are safe spaces for empowerment, education, and connection, enabling girls to realise their full potential and contribute to social change.

Our Approach

Our approach to addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence is multifaceted and holistic, combining prevention, protection, and empowerment strategies. We will collaborate with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, schools, and community leaders, to implement a comprehensive program that addresses the root causes of violence while providing immediate support to survivors.

PROGRAMME GOALS

Shift gender norms around girls access to digital technologies
Raise awareness about technology-facilitated gender-based violence among adolescent girls, young women, parents, educators, and community members.
Strengthen support systems and resources for survivors of online harassment and abuse.
Empower adolescent girls and young women with digital literacy skills, self-defence strategies, and knowledge of their rights.

KEY METRICS FOR SUCCESS

1. Digital Empowerment and Resilience

Percentage increase in girls expressing confidence and resilience in navigating digital spaces and responding to tech-facilitated GBV incidents.
Number of girls demonstrating proficiency in digital literacy skills, including identifying risks, setting boundaries, and seeking support online.

2. Awareness of Tech-Facilitated GBV Risks and Rights

Increase in girls' awareness of the types, prevalence, and consequences of tech-facilitated GBV, as well as their rights and resources for seeking help.
Number of girls accessing educational materials and online resources specifically addressing tech-facilitated GBV awareness and prevention.

3. Empowerment to Advocate and Seek Support

Improvement in girls' confidence and capacity to advocate for themselves and seek support in instances of tech-facilitated GBV.
Number of girls accessing support services, helplines, or online platforms to report tech-facilitated GBV incidents, seek counselling, or access legal assistance.

4. Active Participation in Digital Decision-Making

Increase in girls' participation in discussions and decisions regarding their digital device usage, online activities, and privacy settings.
Number of instances where girls assert their preferences, boundaries, and safety concerns in digital contexts, including negotiating consent and setting online boundaries.

5. Utilisation of Digital Platforms for Empowerment

Percentage of girls utilising digital platforms and online resources for empowerment, education, and social connection, despite potential risks of tech-facilitated GBV.
Number of girls engaging in online communities, peer support networks, or digital advocacy initiatives to promote gender equality and combat tech-facilitated GBV.

KEY METRICS FOR SUCCESS

1. Digital Empowerment and Resilience

Percentage increase in girls expressing confidence and resilience in navigating digital spaces and responding to tech-facilitated GBV incidents.
Number of girls demonstrating proficiency in digital literacy skills, including identifying risks, setting boundaries, and seeking support online.

2. Awareness of Tech-Facilitated GBV Risks and Rights

Increase in girls' awareness of the types, prevalence, and consequences of tech-facilitated GBV, as well as their rights and resources for seeking help.
Number of girls accessing educational materials and online resources specifically addressing tech-facilitated GBV awareness and prevention.

3. Empowerment to Advocate and Seek Support

Improvement in girls' confidence and capacity to advocate for themselves and seek support in instances of tech-facilitated GBV.
Number of girls accessing support services, helplines, or online platforms to report tech-facilitated GBV incidents, seek counselling, or access legal assistance.

4. Active Participation in Digital Decision-Making

Increase in girls' participation in discussions and decisions regarding their digital device usage, online activities, and privacy settings.
Number of instances where girls assert their preferences, boundaries, and safety concerns in digital contexts, including negotiating consent and setting online boundaries.

5. Utilisation of Digital Platforms for Empowerment

Percentage of girls utilising digital platforms and online resources for empowerment, education, and social connection, despite potential risks of tech-facilitated GBV.
Number of girls engaging in online communities, peer support networks, or digital advocacy initiatives to promote gender equality and combat tech-facilitated GBV.

PROGRAMME DESIGN

Comprehensive Program Implementation

Conduct community-based workshops in Delhi and national-scale online awareness campaigns on technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Establish an AI-powered WhatsApp helpline, providing counselling and referrals to legal and medical services for survivors.
For our hotspot in Delhi, we will train frontline workers, educators, and community volunteers on identifying and responding to instances of online harassment. Once established, scale into two new hotspot cities and establish virtual centres of excellence for addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence in each of our hotspots.

In conclusion, our proposed program offers a strategic and scalable approach to tackling technology-facilitated gender-based violence in India, with a focus on protecting and empowering adolescent girls and young women in Hindi-speaking states. By investing in prevention, protection, and empowerment strategies, we can create a safer and more inclusive digital environment for all.

Develop educational materials and resources on digital safety and rights.
Disseminate the awareness campaigns through traditional media as well as digital and social media platforms, targeting specific demographic groups and geographical areas.
Establish safe spaces and peer support networks for adolescent girls and young women to share experiences, seek advice, and access resources.
Collaborate with other organisations who work in this area to conduct research and data analysis to better understand the prevalence and patterns of online harassment and abuse, informing evidence-based interventions.
Engage in strategic advocacy efforts at the national and international levels to influence policy and legal reforms.
Establish long-term partnerships with government agencies, academia, and industry stakeholders to sustain and institutionalise program activities beyond the initial 18-month period.

PROGRAMME DESIGN

Comprehensive Program Implementation

In conclusion, our proposed program offers a strategic and scalable approach to tackling technology-facilitated gender-based violence in India, with a focus on protecting and empowering adolescent girls and young women in Hindi-speaking states. By investing in prevention, protection, and empowerment strategies, we can create a safer and more inclusive digital environment for all.

Conduct community-based workshops in Delhi and national-scale online awareness campaigns on technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Establish an AI-powered WhatsApp helpline, providing counselling and referrals to legal and medical services for survivors.
For our hotspot in Delhi, we will train frontline workers, educators, and community volunteers on identifying and responding to instances of online harassment. Once established, scale into two new hotspot cities and establish virtual centres of excellence for addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence in each of our hotspots.
Develop educational materials and resources on digital safety and rights.
Disseminate the awareness campaigns through traditional media as well as digital and social media platforms, targeting specific demographic groups and geographical areas.
Establish safe spaces and peer support networks for adolescent girls and young women to share experiences, seek advice, and access resources.
Collaborate with other organisations who work in this area to conduct research and data analysis to better understand the prevalence and patterns of online harassment and abuse, informing evidence-based interventions.
Engage in strategic advocacy efforts at the national and international levels to influence policy and legal reforms.
Establish long-term partnerships with government agencies, academia, and industry stakeholders to sustain and institutionalise program activities beyond the initial 18-month period.

In the heart of Delhi, where the bustling streets echo with the cacophony of life, 15-year-old girl Priya's world is confined by the shadows of poverty and oppression.

The onset of the Covid lockdowns begins to change all of that. Priya and the other girls at her school have to start using their parents' phones to do their school work. Many other girls at school use their parents' phones or even have their own phones, but Priya’s parents have always been against her using their phones unless it’s absolutely necessary. Priya can’t believe her luck. She surfs the internet and watches educational and funny videos on YouTube and Instagram. She chats to other girls from other cities across the whole country! It feels like her world is opening up and she can imagine an entirely different future from the one her parents have planned for her.

Then Priya starts receiving messages, Instagram DMs, from the brother of a friend at school. At first the messages are innocuous, but when Priya ignores them they become increasingly insistent and explicit. Priya is horrified and embarrassed. She doesn’t dare tell anyone about it. Especially not her parents. She just stops using the phone entirely. She even stops talking to friends at school. The world feels like a hostile place with danger around every corner.

A year later, at school, Priya and her friends are introduced to Sneha, an ambassador from a programme called Ab No Rukna.

In a quiet room, with just a small group of friends, Sneha shares videos and audio clips on her phone — stories from girls who have been harassed, tricked and exploited online. The stories are worrying, but so many of them have happy endings as the girls learn how to protect themselves online. The ambassador, Sneha, shares her own experiences and then she goes on to teach the girls about the ways they can stay safe online. Priya is still nervous, but at least now she knows that she’s not alone and, more importantly, what happened to her was not her fault.

A week later, Priya and her mother are cooking at home listening to a radio show when the radio host starts interviewing a woman who’s a survivor of tech-facilitated GBV. Priya feels very tense as she watches for her mother’s reactions. Her mother listens intently as the tone of the radio programme changes. The woman talks about her online business, about the ways she has been able to support her family with the money that she makes, working from home. There are more clips from other woman and even their husbands and fathers talking about the difference that phones and the internet have made in their lives. There’s even a message from a local government official talking about how important it is for young people, especially girls to embrace digital technologies to help move India forward.

For the first time ever, Priya and her mother have a conversation about the risks and opportunities of using the internet. Priya tells her mother about the skills she’s learned and even shows her mother on her phone.

Later that month, Sneha is back at school. This time she introduces the girls to a platform they can use to learn more about digital skills, GBV and their rights — a place they can get information, share stories, get help and report GBV too. At the end of the day, Sneha and an older boy give a presentation to the whole school. The older boy talks about the responsibility that each person has to understand, identify and report tech-facilitated GBV. They play a clip with a message from Priya’s favourite Bollywood actor. She can see the boys are listening too. Sneha and the older boy lead the whole school in a series of games and role-playing activities.

Feeling confident, Priya starts using her parents' phone again. Talking to her parents about the things she’s learning. Her world starts to open up again. And then she gets another lewd message. This time, however, Priya is not scared or embarrassed, but outraged. She knows exactly what to do. She takes screengrabs, blocks the user and reports the account. She logs onto the platform Sneha told her about and shares her story with other girls. Everyone rushes to support her and encourage her. Priya even talks to a counsellor online about her earlier experiences and she feels she can finally let go of the fear. She’s wary, but feels wise. She’s in control.

Towards the end of the school year, Sneha is back. She talks to Priya about becoming an ambassador too! Just like her. The confidence she found online has spread to every part of her life and she can’t wait to get started.

In the heart of Delhi, where the bustling streets echo with the cacophony of life, 15-year-old girl Priya's world is confined by the shadows of poverty and oppression.

The onset of the Covid lockdowns begins to change all of that. Priya and the other girls at her school have to start using their parents' phones to do their school work. Many other girls at school use their parents' phones or even have their own phones, but Priya’s parents have always been against her using their phones unless it’s absolutely necessary. Priya can’t believe her luck. She surfs the internet and watches educational and funny videos on YouTube and Instagram. She chats to other girls from other cities across the whole country! It feels like her world is opening up and she can imagine an entirely different future from the one her parents have planned for her.

Then Priya starts receiving messages, Instagram DMs, from the brother of a friend at school. At first the messages are innocuous, but when Priya ignores them they become increasingly insistent and explicit. Priya is horrified and embarrassed. She doesn’t dare tell anyone about it. Especially not her parents. She just stops using the phone entirely. She even stops talking to friends at school. The world feels like a hostile place with danger around every corner.

A year later, at school, Priya and her friends are introduced to Sneha, an ambassador from a programme called Ab No Rukna.

For the first time ever, Priya and her mother have a conversation about the risks and opportunities of using the internet. Priya tells her mother about the skills she’s learned and even shows her mother on her phone.

Later that month, Sneha is back at school. This time she introduces the girls to a platform they can use to learn more about digital skills, GBV and their rights — a place they can get information, share stories, get help and report GBV too. At the end of the day, Sneha and an older boy give a presentation to the whole school. The older boy talks about the responsibility that each person has to understand, identify and report tech-facilitated GBV. They play a clip with a message from Priya’s favourite Bollywood actor. She can see the boys are listening too. Sneha and the older boy lead the whole school in a series of games and role-playing activities.

Feeling confident, Priya starts using her parents' phone again. Talking to her parents about the things she’s learning. Her world starts to open up again. And then she gets another lewd message. This time, however, Priya is not scared or embarrassed, but outraged. She knows exactly what to do. She takes screengrabs, blocks the user and reports the account. She logs onto the platform Sneha told her about and shares her story with other girls. Everyone rushes to support her and encourage her. Priya even talks to a counsellor online about her earlier experiences and she feels she can finally let go of the fear. She’s wary, but feels wise. She’s in control.

Towards the end of the school year, Sneha is back. She talks to Priya about becoming an ambassador too! Just like her. The confidence she found online has spread to every part of her life and she can’t wait to get started.

Happy to see you again!