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Harnessing technology as a force for good to end gender-based violence

Harnessing technology as a force for good to end gender-based violence

Domestic and sexual violence continue to be pervasive and devastating issues that affect individuals and communities worldwide. While there is no single solution to these complex issues, advancements in technology have opened up new opportunities for prevention and intervention. 

However, while technology can be a powerful tool in preventing gender-based violence, it is important to acknowledge that it can also be used to perpetuate it. The same platforms that offer support and resources to survivors can also be used to harass and stalk individuals. With quickly evolving advancements in technology, there are rising incidents of violence occurring in the online space – with 50% of women experiencing online harassment compared to 36% of men, and 14% of women experiencing image based abuse compared to 5% of men1. Women and girls are more likely to be targets of multiple forms of online violence, such as physical threats, sexual harassment, financial abuse, stalking, and exploitation2. It is crucial to examine the ways in which technology can both help and harm those experiencing gender-based violence.

This blog explores some of the promising technologies – from mobile applications, to wearable technology and online support groups – that could transform how we approach gender-based violence prevention: 

  • Mobile applications and websites

In the past few years, many developers, often female, have created apps and websites specifically designed to rate the safety of commercial businesses enterprises, such as shops and restaurants in real time. For example, there are platforms that rate the safety of streets or entire neighborhoods live (Apps: Safetipin, Watch Over Me. Websites: HarassMap, Right to Be). The safety level is determined by the amount of reports of sexual harassment and abuse that are submitted via the app or website. This allows for a fairly live and accurate safety rating that was properly crowdsourced from fellow female identifying individuals. 

  • Simulations

Technology can also provide educational opportunities surrounding domestic and sexual violence. Part of the perpetuation of domestic and sexual violence is the silence and stigma surrounding such sensitive issues. Society often blames and shames victims which discourages them from seeking help or sharing their story. Now, simulations are being developed that would help spread survivors stories and break the silence to ignite crucial conversations. The simulations that are being developed range from personalized experiences to educational advice on how to aid a friend who has an abusive partner (Hannah). The simulation of sharing a survivor’s experience would display how difficult it can be to identify abuse, seek help, and ultimately leave. Companies now have the opportunity to use these simulations to provide training for their appropriate staff members in the event that one of their employees seeks support (ROSA). 

  • AI-powered chatbots

Other educational tools can help people identify coercive, manipulative, and/or abusive behaviors and then, if they are ready, equip them with local resources and national helplines to contact. AI powered chatbots have been on the rise recently, and some even offer a feature that can securely store digital evidence of abuse (Swansea Council Domestic Abuse Hub, rAInbow, Sophia). AI chatbots can provide 24-hours access and can also serve many people at the same time. However, a downside of AI chatbots is that they have limited capabilities and cannot deliver personalized responses. There have also been some security risks raised regarding the amount and nature of the information shared. As is often recognized, prevention is better than a cure, but educational technology can provide both preventative tools and resources for survivors. 

  • Wearable technology

Technology can be helpful in combating violence itself. For example, wearable technology can be an excellent deterrent against physical and verbal abuse (Safelet, OwnFone: Footprint). Safelet is a bracelet that can send a location to “Guardians” – family and friends, at the press of a button. Panic buttons have been created, where an individual who feels threatened can simply press a button and a ping will be sent to the police with the individual’s location. If an attacker knows someone is wearing a panic button, it could potentially be used to deter future actions. 

  • Surveillance technology

The ethics of surveillance technology have also been called into question. For example, what would happen if AI was used to monitor conversations between someone who is being threatened and the perpetrator? AI could monitor conversations, recognize and identify signs that it could escalate to violence and interfere before it’s too late. Interference could include providing resources (hotlines, de-escalation techniques) or having a panic button pop up that would have the police pre-dialled. Alternatively, after monitoring conversations where AI finds patterns of manipulation, it could offer to securely store the conversation as potential evidence. Smart home surveillance products might be able to shift “the burden in terms of identifying and reporting certain patterns of abuse to corporations”4. However, smart home devices do not come without risk. Most smart home systems have one person who has master access and whose control overrides all device settings. This allows abusers to manipulate or coerce without even needing to be physically present5.  

  • Online Support Groups

Experiencing abuse can feel extremely isolating, which is why it is incredibly important to find support and understand that you’re not alone. The internet has made connecting people easier than ever. Social media especially expedites the process of creating groups or discussion posts. Support groups can now be assembled with the click of a button, and can help to connect survivors with each other where they can discuss their experiences and find a welcoming community. Online forums are an excellent place to not only talk about personal experiences, but also are a great way to safely access and share information and resources or even promote events. Finding and experiencing support is crucial to the healing process and technology is a great tool to build communities all over the world.

Technology as a force for good

There is an urgent need to address different forms of technology abuse, and instead harness the power of technology as a force for good. In this blog, we’ve explored a few examples of technology being used to prevent gender-based violence, but the conversation and work needs to continue. Technology must be designed with the safety of survivors in mind, as not nearly enough thought or effort is being put into coming up with online tools and resources that survivors can safely use. To harness the positives of technology to eliminate gender-based violence, we must come together to ensure that the safety and privacy of survivors is at the forefront of any solution. 

If you or someone you know would like to look for resources and support, please visit

www.NOMOREDirectory.org

References

  1. Dixonk, S. (2022, July 13). UK: harassment experienced online 2022, by gender. Statistawww.statista.com/statistics/1319839/uk-abuse-experienced-online-by-gender/.
  2. Binder, G., Poulton, C. (2021, February 12). Six ways tech can help end gender-based violence. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/eap/blog/six-ways-tech-can-help-end-gender-based-violence
  3. Earnest, S., Echt, A., Garza, E., Snawder, J., Rinehart, R. (2019, November 18). blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2019/11/18/wearables-construction/
  4. Funnell, A. (2017, September 26). How technology can be used to safeguard against domestic violence.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-26/how-technology-can-be-used-to-stop-domestic-violence/8981478. 

 

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Denim Day 2023 April 26th

On April 26th, we will once again commemorate Denim Day, the annual event when people around the world wear jeans to show support for survivors of sexual violence and raise awareness about the issue.

Denim Day started in 1999 following an Italian Supreme Court case in the 1990s in which a rape conviction was overturned because the victim was wearing tight jeans. The court argued that the victim’s jeans were so tight that she must have helped the perpetrator remove them, implying that she had consented to the assault. This decision sparked outrage and led to women in the Italian Parliament wearing jeans to work in solidarity with the victim.

Today, some things have changed but too much has stayed the same. Victims of assault are still questioned about and judged on what they were wearing and whether their choices somehow contributed to or provoked the attack or unwanted, unconsented advance. For the record, sexual assault is never the fault of the victim. It’s time to end victim-blaming and rape culture once and for all. 

Participating in Denim Day is a simple yet powerful way to say “NO MORE.” By sharing a selfie or a group photo with everyone wearing denim on social media, you can help send a message and start conversations with friends and family to breakdown the stigma and myths surrounding sexual abuse. 

It’s also an opportunity to find more information and resources for anyone who is interested in getting involved in efforts to stop sexual violence or anyone who is in need of help. Check out the Denim Day website and also access the free NO MORE Global Directory for links to support services in more than 200 countries around the world. 

We hope you’ll join us in wearing denim to show solidarity for survivors and our shared commitment to preventing sexual violence!

Find your local domestic violence support service at NOMOREDirectory.org

 

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Thank You for an Incredible NO MORE Week!

It is amazing how quickly time passes. This NO MORE Week was my fourth as Chief Executive Officer and it also marked NO MORE’s 10th Anniversary. We kicked off the week by acknowledging how much has been achieved in our sector’s movement to end domestic and sexual violence over the last 10 years, but also reminding ourselves how much farther we have to go. It is certainly not a time to rest on our laurels, as domestic and sexual violence persist at epidemic levels. 

So, we have committed to doing and fighting for “More”… more awareness, more funding, and much more progress. The bottom line is that we need “More NO MORE,” which was not just a theme for the Week but a new call to action. We launched a new campaign during NO MORE Week for people to fill in a downloadable sign and share on social media what they’d like to see “More” of to help stop and prevent all forms of abuse and assault. It’s a powerful way to raise our collective voices and urge global leaders to get more engaged. We’re so grateful to all those who have already joined the effort – such as Mariska Hargitay, Justin Baldoni, Julianne Moore, Kyra Sedgwick, Joselyn Dumas, Jayce Baron, Tim Gunn, Alysia Reiner, Commonwealth Secretary General Right Honorable Patricia Scotland, Jodi Picoult, and so many others. This is an ongoing initiative throughout our 10th anniversary year so we hope you will take part. 

I also truly appreciate everyone who joined in the wide array of other activities and programs throughout the 2023 NO MORE Week. Whether you participated in the 5K Race sponsored by our great friends at the NFL and State Farm, attended one or more of the KNOW MORE Global Dialogue Series conversations or webinars, or held your own community event; you made a huge difference! It was particularly heartening to see so many young people involved and carrying the work forward for future generations. 

For anyone who missed any of our KNOW MORE events, I encourage you to check out the available videos. We had a remarkable group of guests discussing timely, relevant and bold topics, including conversations with:

  • The NFL’s Troy Vincent and chef, life coach and host Tommi Vincent sharing their personal stories as survivors and advocates; 
  • Actor, filmmaker, entrepreneur and changemaker Justin Baldoni talking about the importance of healthy masculinity; 
  • Tracey Breeden and Michelle Pelton The Disruption Podcast talking about Disrupting Domestic and Sexual Violence
  • Survivor and activist Mildred Muhammad giving us her very personal perspective on mass shootings and domestic violence; 
  • Founder of H.O.P.E Training and Consultancy Meena Kumari talking about challenges for minority background workers providing frontline services
  • CEO and Founder of Unsilenced Voices Michelle Jewsbury, who inspired us with her journey and leadership,
  • Founder of CryptoConexión Monica Talan speaking about important innovations and technologies to combat gender-based violence, 
  • Ujima Inc. Executive Director/CEO Karma Cottman discussing the unique challenges of Black women and gender-based violence.

We finished the series with a great radio talk with our Washington Says NO MORE Chapter led by Michelle Bart. 

Our panels were equally impressive – we had survivor-led panels focusing on survivors healing through art, the power of support groups and speaking up as a victim, and raising awareness of forced migration and gender-based violence in Latin America. NO MORE was joined by nearly 20 panelists with true global insight. We also supported external efforts of other organizations like The Disruption Podcast, and Business Fights Poverty that focused on the role of the private sector in the prevention of gender-based violence.

In addition, we went to NGO CSW67 in New York to discuss the role of technology in ending gender based violence and to launch the Bright Sky app in the US. with our great partners at the Vodafone Americas Foundation, the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, DomesticShelters.org, Aspirant and Thames Valley Partnership. This new app. is an important tool that can help survivors access critical resources and support, such as safety planning, helplines, and emergency contacts. 

Bright Sky is one of those true cross-sector collaborations that exemplifies what we can achieve when we work together. Throughout our journey, we have been fortunate to team up with our Chapters and so many dedicated partners who have been instrumental in expanding our reach and impact. It is critical that we continue to unite to increase awareness and inspire greater action to end domestic and sexual violence, once and for all. 

As we move forward through our 10th year and beyond, I want to thank you again and humbly ask for your continued support. Together, we can accomplish much MORE to create a better, safer, fairer world. 

Sincerely,

Pamella Zaballa CEO, NO MORE

 

Find your local domestic violence support service at NOMOREDirectory.org

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How Corporations Can Disrupt Domestic and Sexual Violence

The global epidemic of gender-based violence is staggering, and the statistics seem at times impossible to move. It is a human rights violation that knows no boundaries and affects every industry and every community. I’ve spent much of my career working in policing and tech corporations like Uber, creating safe spaces for women, the LGBTQ+ community and other historically marginalized groups. No corporation is immune to the challenge of addressing domestic and sexual violence. What I know is corporations have a tremendous opportunity with their scale and scope to drive awareness, prevention, and disruption of harm like never before. The problem is global, so their global reach is a critical asset in developing impactful solutions. 

However, corporations often view solving deep societal and systemic problems as complex and fear efforts may lead to negative attention. That is rarely the case when corporations take meaningful, expert-informed actions. These hard issues are certainly not easy to address, so many corporations sit back, stay silent, and do nothing or very little, because they don’t want to get in the middle of these difficult conversations. They struggle with understanding the level of accountability they should have as well as their involvement when they believe the issue is not connected to the focus of their core business or worse that addressing the issue is not their responsibility. The fact is, if you have women and traditionally marginalized employees and consumers, then helping create safe spaces for them in and out of the workplace must always be a core business focus. 

How can any of us ignore violence against women, the most devastating, pervasive endemic that the World Health Organization tells us causes harm to 1 in 3 women, or around 736 million women, in every country and culture. We also cannot forget that this harm also extends to some of the most marginalized in our communities including women of color and non-binary individuals.Those “hundreds of millions” and so many more are employed in corporations and drive consumer spending. Harvard Business Review tells us women alone control about $20 trillion in consumer spending globally. There is consumer research that has shown that safety, belonging, and wellbeing are top priorities for women and marginalized groups. Demonstrating genuine care and action is the right thing to do. That alone should be enough, but for those that need additional convincing, caring and creating safety for all is just good for business.

The responsibility of corporations is not to solve the global endemic of gender-based violence. It is too complex and nuanced for just one industry to solve alone. Just like all of us, though, corporations have a responsibility to our cities and our communities “to play a role”, and they have the global reach and power to play a critical role. Corporations have an opportunity to help create a safer ecosystem for everyone. We don’t solve gender-based violence without all of us working collectively.

Take tech companies and their platforms, for example. Every day millions of people across the globe use technology to socialize, create friendships, find their next date, make their next purchase, experience new travel destinations, and move safely around our cities. Technology across industries and platforms is woven into the design of not only our personal lives but the systems and institutions we engage with. Whether online or in real life, technology provides fast, convenient and scalable access to meeting many of our wants and needs, but it also facilitates spaces and connections where barriers show up and where harm, harassment. and abuse are amplified, particularly for those who have been historically marginalized. 

How can corporations work together to be a part of the solution to addressing the devastating and pervasive issue of gender-based violence that shows up online and in real life? Here are a few concrete steps and evidence-based approaches corporations can take that can create meaningful impacts that are also not difficult to execute with the right help.

  • Disrupt the silence: Lack of understanding and an unwillingness to speak openly about violence and harm against women and marginalized groups plays a large part in why these problems persist in the US and across the globe. Use your platform, marketing reach, and socials to raise awareness. With the help of experts, corporations can incorporate innovative ways to educate and create support for both employees and consumers while also leveraging technology. Creative and timely education can help in changing harmful attitudes, disrupt behavior, and foster healthy and respectful interactions and connections. 
  • Have our backs: We all play an important role in looking out for each other’s safety, creating safe spaces, and helping prevent harm and violence before it starts, along with demonstrating genuine care and action when it does. Creating and improving access to opportunities and support resources is a critical need. It is a huge, global barrier for women and marginalized groups. It is not as easy as it may seem to find dedicated resources when people need it the most. How can your corporation or platform be the “bystander” who we know we can turn to? Using your corporation or platform to create visible access to resources can create a genuine sense of belonging and care before harm happens and can also provide thoughtful support options when needed the most.  
  • Assemble for collective action: We are stronger together. There is power in industry and community collaboration. An important first step is asking for help. Corporations can work with industry experts and thought-leading organizations like NO MORE to learn more and build actionable commitments. Experts can also help you understand what other industry leaders are pioneering globally, creating opportunities for collaboration. Experts can help corporations incorporate their valuable insights into company practices, product features, and educational initiatives for consumers. 

Employees and consumers alike have high expectations and are increasingly looking to corporations to take a values-based approach and lead sustainable efforts, helping find and deliver solutions that protect and promote meaningful social change for women and the most marginalized in our communities. Women, historically marginalized groups, and the communities who support them are also increasingly using their voices and personal platforms like never before, reminding corporations of these expectations and the right thing to do.

There is no easy solution, but corporations have the scale to take information and drive change with concrete actions in places others cannot reach. We need more corporations across all industries who are willing to step up and be accountable. Working together on sustainable efforts can allow us to bring awareness, remove barriers, help transform lives, and create new allies to assemble, help disrupt, and say NO MORE to sexual assault and domestic violence.

About Tracey Breeden

Tracey Breeden is the CEO and founder of Disrupt the Landing and host of The Disruption Podcast. Tracey and her team consult and partner with corporations, NGOs, government agencies, and individuals to create safe spaces through the implementation of policies and programs on digital platforms and in real life for users of these platforms and the employees of the organizations DTL works with.

Tracey has over two decades of experience in technology and government/public safety sectors.  Tracey brings an intersectional, equity & inclusion lens to safety operations, products, policies, and programs.  A former police officer and investigator with subject matter expertise in sexual assault and domestic violence.  Tracey was Uber’s first Head of Women’s Safety and created Uber’s Global Women’s Safety & Gender-Based Violence Programs Team—the first global team dedicated to the safety of women and other vulnerable populations at Uber, and Tracey was the Vice President, Head of Safety and Social Advocacy at Match Group.

Tracey’s vision is to build authentic, equitable, and respectful communities that are free from all forms of harm.

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Imagine if one out of every three people you know, love and care for were victims of physical and sexual violence. Now imagine that all those people, about whom you care, who suffered, were women and girls. And that the violence they experienced had an enduring impact upon all aspects of their lives, destructively impacting their basic rights, freedoms, health, mental well-being, education and work.

You would hope that in our day and age, there would be an effective response to almost completely prevent their suffering, to address the unprecedented scale of the problem. You would be horrified to discover that only a tiny fraction of abusers ever faced justice, that most people were bystanders to this tragedy with little or no training on how to intervene, and in fact that many communities routinely dismissed the issue as a private matter.

Unfortunately, we do not need to use our imagination. It is a disturbing and frightening reality for many women and girls in every culture and community. It is a sad fact that our world has tolerated and virtually normalised such suffering. This is unacceptable. We must change. 

It is for precisely this reason why the Commonwealth is fully mobilised and committed to pushing for a new reality, one where women and girls are safe, valued and respected in every sphere of life. 

Experience teaches us that addressing the devastating impacts of this hidden pandemic of physical and sexual violence requires a coordinated response, involving all sectors. In that respect, we have taken a multisectoral approach through our Commonwealth Says NO MORE campaign to challenge the status quo that abuse is inevitable and work towards a progressive shift in the societal attitudes that perpetuate the violence as well as the underlying inequalities that make women vulnerable. 

By visiting the campaign website, governments, particularly those with more limited resources, can download culturally sensitive toolkits to establish local chapters to support victims and those at risk, train community leaders to counter harmful social norms and guide bystanders to intervene when they witness violence. Recognising that it often takes victims a long time to understand the insidious nature of the abuse, our resources are specifically designed to help them better identify the signs of abuse, which are often not limited to physical violence, and give them one-stop access to critical information, including local hotlines, shelters, safety plans and legal guidance.

While prevention is our priority, it is clear from the evidence that millions of women and girls around the world continue to suffer from abuse. To bring down these cases and keep them safe from future harm, there is an urgent need to ensure women from all backgrounds have effective and equal access to legal protections and services. Working with partners, including UN Women, we are providing support for countries to reform such legislation and laws which discriminate unjustly on grounds of gender so that women have equal rights to leave their abusive partners and seek justice. These interventions are further complemented by our legal handbooks, which are supporting judicial officers in sensitively handling cases of violence, including ways to tackle biases in court.

More importantly, we recognise abuse does not stop when women are removed from abusive homes. It is important, therefore, that the response should take into account the long-term needs of victims to recover from trauma and rebuild their lives. We have been accelerating our advocacy and policy efforts to ensure victims can access the healthcare they need, including mental health services, at a reasonable cost, as well as educational and economic opportunities to achieve their full potential.

I would also lay particular emphasis on the importance of mobilising practical action among our 56 Commonwealth countries through meetings and dialogues to share resources and experiences on how best to tackle and end this issue. It is encouraging, in this regard, that at our recent policy dialogue during the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda, we witnessed renewed commitment by governments through the endorsement of the Commonwealth Guidelines for a Whole System Approach Towards Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls. 

Building on the best practices from various Commonwealth countries, the guidelines set out instructions on how to create a culture of change through actions such as designing and implementing national action plans, improving the way different public departments work together to support victims, and developing a set of indicators through which progress can be measured. As countries strive to act with greater urgency to protect women and girls from violence, we are encouraging them to also consider using the Commonwealth resources to adopt a more joined-up and systemwide approach towards preventing and tackling this pervasive violation.

So, while it is heartening that throughout the Commonwealth, we see promising initiatives and commitments by governments and organisations to bring down the cases of violence, we note with concern that in the face of depleting public resources, the world is sleepwalking into its old habits, which the pandemic showed us, were inadequate and ineffective. 

Today, as we mark International Women’s Day, we must commit to transformative action that keeps ending violence against women and girls high on the agenda. This means each one of us needs to take responsibility, individually and collectively, by making our homes places of safety for women and girls, taking full advantage of the resources made available by the Commonwealth and other organisations. That is the only way to end violence in our neighbourhoods, communities and countries. 

The task ahead of us is immense. However, with sustained conviction and commitment from everyone, together, it is foreseeable that one day in the not-too-distant future, we may awake to gender-based violence being relegated to the annals of history, where it belongs.

We must all say no more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find your local domestic violence support service at NOMOREDirectory.org

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This year marks the 10th anniversary of NO MORE. Seems hard to believe a decade has gone by. I have vivid memories of the very first meeting we held with national domestic and sexual assault organizations to talk about the idea. I recall the options we got from Debbie Millman, then at Sterling Brands, the design firm who worked with Christine Mau, now a NO MORE Board member, to develop the NO MORE symbol. 

But here’s the secret: Anne Glauber and I did not really have any idea about what NO MORE could be when we came up with the idea. We knew what we wanted, but we did not truly know what was possible. That came later – as our open-source campaign was adopted across the country and around the world. That last one, around the world, is really due to our current CEO, Pamela Zaballa. Eight years ago, Pamela came to NYC to meet me and ask about creating a UK Says NO MORE. She saw our vision, ran with it – and she has not stopped. 

However, as far as we have come in addressing domestic and sexual violence, there are always new developments we could not have anticipated – developments that unintentionally help facilitate gender-based violence. 

Sexual harassment and abuse in virtual reality is one example. Not a new problem, it is a growing issue. I live in a house of gamers and have heard all about the pervasive racist, sexist and homophobic obscenities spewed during multiplayer games, so while I can’t say I’m surprised, I am horrified.

The vitriol against those who are different is abhorrent because words hurt. Turning to virtual violation, it’s clear that people don’t yet appreciate how real the experience of being harassed and assaulted is – even if you cannot feel it physically.

Dr. Wendy Patrick wrote in Psychology Today: “Virtual reality is designed to transport our brains into a virtual body, to trick us into experiencing an alternate existence in real-time. Accordingly, experiencing sexual assault or harassment online can create some of the same mental and emotional responses as in real life.”

Just ask the first-time user of VR who marveled in a 2016 Medium article, “How could it be, when my brother-in-law has played multiplayer mode a hundred times without incident, but my female voice elicited lewd behavior within minutes?” 

So why bring this up in a 10th anniversary post? 

The theme for this year is More NO MORE – acknowledging our accomplishments and continuing the campaign, calling for: 

MORE Commitment

MORE Action

MORE Inclusion

MORE Respect

MORE Unity 

MORE Progress

We have collectively made a lot of progress: raising awareness of domestic and sexual violence around the world, providing tools and resources to communities and leaders to combat it, and starting to change the culture that allows violence to persist. 

But we need More NO MORE. This includes addressing abuse that is the unintended consequences of new technology by anticipating potential harm and misuse; building guardrails in from the start; and insisting on respect and inclusion.

If NO MORE has demonstrated anything since it was founded, it is that we are stronger together than alone.

Please join us in demanding more this year and beyond. 

Find your local domestic violence support service at NOMOREDirectory.org

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I have spent many hours talking to people about domestic and sexual violence, advising they try not to pass judgement when someone discloses or push them to take actions that they are not ready to take. I tell them how important it is to let the person who was impacted make the decisions for themselves and regain the power that was taken from them.

Well, I learned firsthand recently how difficult that is to do when the person who has been hurt is someone you love — in this case one of my closest friends.

The details of the story are not important. Suffice to say, violence and abuse was perpetrated and the criminal justice system was involved. And this is where I fell down — hard.

Rather than listen, I lectured. Rather than understand, I vented my anger. Rather than just support my friend, I got frustrated with the direction they were heading and the decisions they were making. 

Until…I realized what I was doing — and instead of making it about me and what I wanted, I started to really explore what my friend wanted and what would be best for them.

For my friend, closure was not about punishment, but about feeling heard and being free to move on. It was about finding peace. 

For me, it was about learning to practice what I preach — and how difficult it is to put what you think is right aside when a person you care about has been hurt. 

At their core, domestic and sexual violence are about one person exerting power and control over another. A key part of healing is regaining that agency over your life and making your own decisions — even if they are not the ones family and friends want you to make. 

I am still processing how I reacted to the situation and have learned a lot over the last few months — most importantly: the path to healing is different for everyone — and is not about me or what I want. 

If you are someone you know who is interested to learn about NO MORE, please visit our website

www.NOMORE.org

 

If you or someone you know would like to look for resources and support, please visit

www.NOMOREDirectory.org

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Cybercrime an Online Violence Against Women and Girls

Over the past 25 years, there has been an explosion of digital technologies and online platforms, all of which were envisioned to be good and helpful societies.  These developments have indeed led to astounding improvements in scientific, medical, educational, cultural and individual advances.  And yet, there is a much darker side to these advances. At any given moment, someone you know may be experiencing online abuse, it can be isolating and all-encompassing, creeping from one online platform to another and reaching into all aspects of life.

Technology Facilitated violence and abuse, (TVFA), includes actions perpetrated online and offline.  For example cyberstalking, forcing a person to pose for or send unwanted sexual pictures, the distribution of sexually explicit photos without consent, cyber flashing, sextortion and other forms of harassment and abuse.

The scale of the current situation is alarming:

  • Women are 27 times more likely to be harassed online than men
  • 1 in 5 women in the United Kingdom has been subjected to online harassment or abuse
  • Black and minoritized women and non-binary people were more likely to report enduring increased online abuse during COVID-19, with 38% saying that the context of the pandemic had led to increased online abuse
  • 1 in 7 young women has experienced threats to share their intimate images or videos
  • 85% of women who experienced online abuse from a partner or ex-partner said that it was part of the pattern of abuse they also experienced offline.

The problem itself has many different factors which we need to work together to address namely:

  • When technology develops alarmingly fast, it is important that we appreciate and understand its full ability and ensure that measures are in place to prevent harm. 
  •  We need to work together to ensure accountability and champion legislation, such as the UK’s Online Harms Bill. 
  • We need to focus on Increasing awareness and understanding of the impact of online behaviours
  • With urgency, we need to improve the response to online harm 

Today, Pamela Zaballa, Global CEO of the NO MORE Foundation will be addressing the Commonwealth Rule of Law Conversation Seminar Series on Cybercrime and Online Violence Against Women, Girls and Children.  Along with leaders from the Commonwealth, UN Women, Get Safe Online and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.  

At NO MORE, we are constantly asking ‘What can we do’, with the aim of inspiring activism and fueling cultural change.  

At NO MORE, we are encouraging people to improve their understanding of what online harmful behaviours are, the level of trauma they can cause, to report abuse and to demand change. We create and deliver education programs for young people and parents about online harm and we work closely with the private sector, especially tech companies, providing advice around safeguarding, safety and end-user support. And critically providing opportunities for the voice of survivors to be heard – they have the knowledge and experience we need to tackle this epidemic.

There is no one solution to address cybercrime and online abuse.  It will take time, dedication, determination and flexibility to work collaboratively.  We at NO MORE are honoured to participate in this critical conversation. Our desire is to truly inspire awareness, listen to the victims of abuse, and transform this knowledge into change.  Cybercrime and online abuse must be addressed in a holistic and collaborative manner if we are truly going to inspire NO MORE sexual and domestic violence.

 

If you are someone you know who is interested to learn about NO MORE, please visit our website

www.NOMORE.org

 

If you or someone you know would like to look for resources and support, please visit

www.NOMOREDirectory.org

 

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