On the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Republic of Croatia and UN Women convened the G77 and Emerging Partners Ministerial Roundtable, “Addressing Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls.” The discussion brought together governments, survivors, civil society, technology experts, and young people to address a growing challenge: ensuring digital transformation advances equality rather than creating new avenues for violence.
Opening the roundtable, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković of Croatia underscored both the opportunities technology creates and the risks when it is misused. “Online violence is not simply a digital problem”, he said – emphasizing that harm that begins online can have profound consequences offline. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous reinforced the urgency of protecting women’s participation in digital and public life: “We must remove the barriers that keep women from participating safely and from shaping the technologies of the future.”
The discussion highlighted growing international recognition of technology-facilitated violence as a gender equality and human rights issue. UN Women’s Global Database on Violence against Women and Girls tracks government measures addressing violence against women – including technology-facilitated forms – while highlighting the continuing need for stronger laws, prevention, services, and accountability.
National ministers shared practical responses from their countries: Türkiye highlighted strengthened legislation and digital safety initiatives. Nigeria emphasized closing legal gaps and building coordinated, survivor-centred systems across law enforcement, justice, and social services. Bangladesh called for stronger international cooperation and common approaches to digital harassment. Croatia highlighted legal reforms and digitalization to improve access to justice.
Sasha Havlicek of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue highlighted the wider online ecosystem of misogyny – and how algorithms can amplify harmful content targeting young men.
Delegates from Finland, Guatemala, Iraq, Montenegro, the UAE, and the UK, alongside representatives from IBM, New York University, and a Youth Advocate, also shared insights.
Scharliina Eräpuro, Survivor Advocate and Founder of the Little Girl Project, brought the discussion back to its human cost and to the need for prevention.
“Do not ask what happened to us. Ask what would have protected us”, she said, emphasizing why technology-facilitated violence cannot be treated as separate from violence in the physical world.
The message from the roundtable was clear: The task is to further accelerate coordinated action across Government, civil society, and the private sector.
Technology companies must build safety, privacy, and human rights into products from the outset. Governments must ensure laws are enforceable and institutions adequately resourced. Survivors need accessible, confidential, and sustained support delivered by resourced frontline responders – while young people need digital literacy and men and boys must be part of challenging the norms that enable abuse.
Technology crosses borders, and so must the response.
