CYBER VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS

6
CONCLUSIONS
AND PRINCIPLES
FOR FURTHER ACTION
We are faced with two priorities that require immediate
attention: eliminating cyber abuse and violence against
women and reproduction online of offline harmful gender
based practices; and the use of technology to combat
multiple forms of violence against women and as vehicles
for systemic change. As this framework suggests, the
solutions are multi-dimensional in nature. In sum, the
following considerations underpin and guide further
action:
• Solutions can be found in innovative ICT
technologies, the media and gaming industry,
content creators and disseminators, users of the
Internet, policy makers, and the regulators in the
absence of ‘the industry’ able and/or willing to
self-regulate. Efforts to ensure that governance
structures, strategies, investments, the tech sector
(public and private), access, and skill development
are inclusive and gender responsive are requisites.
• Solutions can also be found through a mix of
programs, projects and laws that bring about
increased sensitivity toward the need to change
social norms and behaviours. Included in
this mix are ‘hard’ safeguards as defined and
implemented by stakeholders to brace/support/
facilitate an Internet that is VAWG-safe. Should
this mix still not bring about the needed change,
sanctions and enforced compliance with newly
crafted regulations, laws and conventions will be
necessary.
Online diligence, monitoring and reporting against violence
and related crimes is everyone’s business but responsible
leadership roles must be played by:
• Telecoms and search engines, the indispensable
backbone bringing the content to users, have a
particular role and responsibility to protect the
47