Consultative meeting on eliminating technology-facilitated gender-based violence

At the initiative of UN Women, the Gender Theme Group in Georgia held a consultative meeting with civil society on the prevention and elimination of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). The meeting was part of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign and brought together activists, NGO representatives, international partners and the IT sector.

The meeting aimed to highlight the importance of the issue, encourage discussion around it and promote effective dialogue between civil society and the private sector on TFGBV. During the thematic sessions, the participants reviewed the gaps in legislation and policy, explored victim-centred approaches and the current challenges related to TFGBV, and discussed the digital transformation needed to ensure a safe online presence.

Violence against women remains a widespread problem in Georgia. At the same time, alongside the development of digital technologies, new forms of violence are emerging, characterized by an increasingly high prevalence rate. According to a 2023 research study by the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, every second female in Georgia who actively uses the Internet has experienced TFGBV, while 47 per cent of women do not feel safe online.

The most common forms of TFGBV include receiving unwanted or offensive messages (40 per cent), receiving undesirable and inappropriate sexually explicit messages on social media (30 per cent), and having one’s private accounts and web pages hacked (25 per cent). Notably, young women aged 18–24 are four times more likely to become victims of TFGBV than women aged 65 and older. In addition, women with vocational education, urban residents, LBTQI+ women and divorced women face relatively higher risks than other demographic groups.

The study shows that reporting rates of TFGBV are extremely low. Most survivors share their experiences only with friends or family members, indicating distrust towards institutions, a fear of victim blaming and concerns related to confidentiality. Although there are cybercrime units operating in Georgia, they are not integrated into multisectoral mechanisms, and their cooperation with global social media platforms remains minimal.

“Unfortunately, children lack even the basic information about TFGBV, and perpetrators take advantage of this,” stated Tamar Gabodze, Head of Partnership for Human Rights (PHR), at the meeting, as the protection of child survivors of violence and persons with disabilities constitutes one of the key areas of her organization. “I represent many underage survivors, including survivors of rape, whose stories began with violence in the digital space. Every child may face this threat, but minors with disabilities are particularly vulnerable. Regrettably, our practical experience suggests that survivors turn to us only when the situation has already become very serious, because they do not know how to respond at the very first incident. At present, we are unable to fully protect children from violence in online spaces. This is the reality.”

Violence against women has far-reaching consequences not only for women and their families but also for society and the country as a whole. In Georgia, the economic cost of violence against women exceeds 3 billion Georgian lari, equivalent to 3.8 per cent of the country’s GDP. At the conclusion of the meeting, participants emphasized the need to combat violence against women, including digital violence, and highlighted the commitments undertaken by Georgia under the Istanbul Convention. It was noted that it is important to further strengthen cooperation to address this issue and to ensure that TFGBV remains a priority within the gender equality agenda.