Ending Violence Against Women and Girls – Challenging online and offline abuse

Violence Against Women and Girls is alarmingly prevalent and remains the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide. In Northern Ireland sadly we are accustomed to many of the startling statistics around violence against women and girls. The most recently published statistics from Women’s Aid Federation indicate not only the alarming levels of women and children seeking refuge, but the impact of domestic violence on children. Out of the 364 children living in refuge last year, 46% were aged between under five.

Whilst we can acknowledge progress thanks partly to international law and national strategies to address these issues, progress remains slow. New threats like misogynist abuse online – now termed technology-facilitated gender-based violence are emerging. This year as the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Bejing Platform for action. That’s considered the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights and the focus for 2025 16 days of activism is concentrating on the theme: ‘Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls’.

Millions of women and girls are affected by digital abuse each year. Reports suggest that between 16 and 58 percent of women have experienced this type of violence. This is wide ranging and includes cyberbullying, trolling, online stalking or surveillance hate speech and disinformation, online grooming and sexual exploitation and in recent years deep fakes. Ninety to ninety-five per cent of all online deepfakes are non-consensual pornographic images with around ninety per cent of these depicting women. Numerous sophisticated digital technologies have allowed this particular type of violence against women and girls to thrive. And there is evidence it can promote real-world violence.

Thankfully, there is a growing recognition of this threat. The Seventieth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in March 2026, will convene global leaders, policymakers, and advocates advancing gender equality and women's empowerment and there will be sharing of knowledge on how all types of violence against women and girls can be addressed.

Even so, addressing online violence shares many of the same challenges those working in the area are long familiar with – such as gaps in policing, weak regulation for tech platforms and anonymous social media accounts. Alongside these problems is the growing threat of the so-called “manosphere” which normalises extreme misogyny. This, combined with a growing backlash against gender equality means policy and practice must keep pace with these new challenges.

Despite the obstacles of standardised data, evidence is emerging that indicates online violence disproportionately impacts those with public profiles– like politicians, journalists and those in civic life. This is further amplified for women with intersecting forms of discrimination such as race, disability and gender identity. In recent weeks we have seen local women leaders talk candidly and movingly about the detrimental impact of online violence on their professional and personal lives. Added to this Northern Ireland has unique challenges – we live in a post-conflict society where violence is normalised. Our legislation can’t keep up with the challenges as much online violence is not yet categorised as crime and the police service is over stretched and underfunded.

Critically we see that the reported level of online violence is discouraging women from entering politics when their presence is needed more than ever in shaping and delivering meaningful policy change. The importance of women’s involvement at all levels has been highlighted and reflected upon with the twenty fifth anniversary of UNSCR1325 Women, Peace and Security. Gendered misinformation remains a threat and an ongoing barrier for women taking on leadership positions. Clearly training on online safety and cyber security is needed which should now be considered for inclusion in National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325.

There are a lot of challenges facing us but the evidence is also pointing to solutions. The presence of a strong feminist movement is the single most critical factor to drive policy change in ending violence against women locally and internationally. Feminist organisations have always risen to the challenge and have proved effective in demanding accountability and keeping the profile of these issues in the public consciousness.

But they remain under resourced and face the added obstacles of a growing backlash against women’s rights, a sidelining of civil society and shrinking funding environment. As well as the resourcing of civil society and women’s organisations specifically, continuing to nurture equitable partnerships across sectors and collaborating across areas of expertise alongside well-resourced national strategies will aid progress.

The world is witnessing what the United Nations Secretary General has described as “the reversal of generational gains” of women’s and girls’ human rights. This now includes the added dimension of online violence against women. Nothing short of investment, collaboration and action will make a difference to violence against women and girls both online and offline.