Session
Association for Progressive Communications
Tigist Hussen, Association for Progressive Communications, civil society, Africa Namita Avriti, Association for Progressive Communications, civil society, Asia Diana Bichanga, Association for Progressive Communications, civil society, Africa
Tigist Hussen, Association for Progressive Communications, civil society, Africa Namita Avriti, Association for Progressive Communications, civil society, Asia Diana Bichanga, Association for Progressive Communications, civil society, Africa
Organization's Website
Speakers
Tigist Hussen, Association for Progressive Communications, civil society, Africa
Alexandra Robinson, United Nations Population Fund, IGO - international government organisation / Irene Khan, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, IGO - international government organisation
Ghiwa Sayegh, Kohl journal, academia, Lebanon-France
Analia or Karine, Marialab, Civll society, Brazil
Onsite Moderator
Tigist Hussen, Association for Progressive Communications
Online Moderator
Namita, Association for Progressive Communications
Rapporteur
Diana, Association for Progressive Communications
SDGs
5. Gender Equality
10. Reduced Inequalities
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Targets: TFGBV directly impacts the human rights, safety, and inclusion of women and people of diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTQIA+ individuals), and other marginalised groups, and in the current context when there is a continuum between online and offline, this impact is across digital/virtual and onground spaces. Its connection to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) is particularly strong because TFGBV reinforces gender-based oppression, limits access to justice, and exacerbates social inequalities. 1. In relation to SDG 5: Gender Equality, in particular, TFGBV undermines Target 5.2 (eliminating violence) by enabling online harassment, doxxing, and gendered disinformation. It also limits Target 5.6 (access to sexual and reproductive rights) by silencing advocates and spreading misinformation. The gender digital divide (Target 5.b) worsens as fear of harassment forces many to disengage from technology or it leads to silencing of people and their critical voices and participation in public discourse. 2. In relation to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, TFGBV fuels violence (Target 16.1) both online and onground/offline, especially against feminists, journalists, and human rights defenders. It suppresses free expression and access to information (Target 16.10) through censorship, digital surveillance, and algorithmic bias, preventing marginalised voices from being heard. 3. In relation to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, TFGBV TFGBV silences and excludes women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and it disproportionately affects racialised, LGBTQIA+, indigenous, and people with disability (Target 10.2), deepening systemic inequalities. Legal systems fail to protect survivors and address discriminatory digital practices (Target 10.3), leaving marginalised communities without justice or safety, and it also impacts the movements and activism of the same people and groups.
10. Reduced Inequalities
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Targets: TFGBV directly impacts the human rights, safety, and inclusion of women and people of diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTQIA+ individuals), and other marginalised groups, and in the current context when there is a continuum between online and offline, this impact is across digital/virtual and onground spaces. Its connection to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) is particularly strong because TFGBV reinforces gender-based oppression, limits access to justice, and exacerbates social inequalities. 1. In relation to SDG 5: Gender Equality, in particular, TFGBV undermines Target 5.2 (eliminating violence) by enabling online harassment, doxxing, and gendered disinformation. It also limits Target 5.6 (access to sexual and reproductive rights) by silencing advocates and spreading misinformation. The gender digital divide (Target 5.b) worsens as fear of harassment forces many to disengage from technology or it leads to silencing of people and their critical voices and participation in public discourse. 2. In relation to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, TFGBV fuels violence (Target 16.1) both online and onground/offline, especially against feminists, journalists, and human rights defenders. It suppresses free expression and access to information (Target 16.10) through censorship, digital surveillance, and algorithmic bias, preventing marginalised voices from being heard. 3. In relation to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, TFGBV TFGBV silences and excludes women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and it disproportionately affects racialised, LGBTQIA+, indigenous, and people with disability (Target 10.2), deepening systemic inequalities. Legal systems fail to protect survivors and address discriminatory digital practices (Target 10.3), leaving marginalised communities without justice or safety, and it also impacts the movements and activism of the same people and groups.
Format
Roundtable
APC Women's Rights Programme convenes people for collective-sense making and creates participatory and open formats that are inclusive and respectful of diversity. This event will be split into two sessions, the first session will lead with inputs in a plenary format with speakers from Myanmar, Sudan, Palestine on expanding the notions around TFGBV in the context of war, conflict and repression, and this will be followed by breakout groups that will focus on responses and strategies that are regional, national/local and global. In particular the focus will be on the policy and advocacy opportunities for 2025 and developing a common agenda amongst those present in the room. The second session will open with inputs on specific kinds of responses that have emerged in the last five years, including feminist helplines (Marialab), building discourse (Kohl journal and Makan) and alternate social media platforms and feminist infrastructure (APC). The last 15-20 minutes of this session will be a hands-on segment of introducing and onboarding people onto social media platforms that are outside of the Big Tech platforms, community-driven and feminist-led.
APC Women's Rights Programme convenes people for collective-sense making and creates participatory and open formats that are inclusive and respectful of diversity. This event will be split into two sessions, the first session will lead with inputs in a plenary format with speakers from Myanmar, Sudan, Palestine on expanding the notions around TFGBV in the context of war, conflict and repression, and this will be followed by breakout groups that will focus on responses and strategies that are regional, national/local and global. In particular the focus will be on the policy and advocacy opportunities for 2025 and developing a common agenda amongst those present in the room. The second session will open with inputs on specific kinds of responses that have emerged in the last five years, including feminist helplines (Marialab), building discourse (Kohl journal and Makan) and alternate social media platforms and feminist infrastructure (APC). The last 15-20 minutes of this session will be a hands-on segment of introducing and onboarding people onto social media platforms that are outside of the Big Tech platforms, community-driven and feminist-led.
Duration (minutes)
120
Description
Expanded notions of Technology-facilitated Gender Based Violence in the current context of genocide, repression and backlash:
At the Commission for Status of Women in 2025, the Secretary General noted that there is a backlash that severely is impacting and even going backwards on the hard won rights for women across the world. There was also an acknowledgment of the role of the internet and technology here, as online violence, deep fakes and new technologies like artificial intelligence creating new platforms for violence and abuse ( https://apnews.com/article/un-women-gender-equality-backlash-beijing-pl… ). In this context, APC wants to host a session on expanding notions around technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) that will highlight research and lead to a discussion on the advocacy needed to address TFGBV in the context of backlash on women’s rights and LGBTQ rights, war, genocide and repression.
For this we plan 2 sessions within the pre-event, which will include inputs on artificial intelligence and TFGBV, the role of Big Tech, militarisation of tech and TFGBV in the context of Lebanon and Palestine, and what can be our collective and feminist response strategies ranging from setting up of feminist helplines, campaigning for platform accountability and taking our movements and collectives into alternate social media spaces. This will include inputs from the speakers in a plenary session, breakout discussions on policy and advocacy responses, and orientation to alternate fediverse, blusky and other alternate platforms especially those that are feminist and community-oriented.
This session will be hybrid, with some of the inputs and speakers will participate online. In particular we have had issues with ensuring visas for speakers from locations such as Palestine, Sudan etc. and in that context would like to keep open the possibility of remote participation and input. The rest of the meeting can also be hybrid allowing people online to participate by viewing remotely, sending questions via chat and participating in a breakout group solely in the online space.
This session will be hybrid, with some of the inputs and speakers will participate online. In particular we have had issues with ensuring visas for speakers from locations such as Palestine, Sudan etc. and in that context would like to keep open the possibility of remote participation and input. The rest of the meeting can also be hybrid allowing people online to participate by viewing remotely, sending questions via chat and participating in a breakout group solely in the online space.