by Karen Castellon, FAUSA, AWC Berlin, AWAquitane
She Surfs Freedom: Approaches to Ending Violence against Women and Girls Online and Creating Safe Spaces for Young Women and Girls
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Salvation Army Auditorium
This panel discussed the results of a survey conducted during the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence in 2022. It asked girls and women in 70 countries about their experiences online and what needs to be done so that there’s freedom and equality in online spaces.
Seven facts from the survey:
1. More than 50% of girls and women surveyed spend over 4 hours of their lives each day online.
2. Two-thirds (66%) of the girls and women surveyed have seen and received sexual or violent content that made them feel uncomfortable.
3. 45% of girls have received unwelcome sexual messages.
4. 42% of girls have since changed their behavior online due to this.
5. Over 30% have felt negative about themselves due to other people’s comments on their own or other people’s content.
6. 100% of respondents believe that this behavior, action and violation towards them was because they were girls and women.
7. 75% of girls and women questioned believe that social media channels should be responsible for making online spaces safer.
Calls to Action:
1. We call on governments to create a clear legal framework to address online violence against women and girls. Specifically, adopt a comprehensive definition of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls.
2. We call on corporate social media companies to take responsibility and increase safety mechanisms, and do a review of damaging policies and algorithms that excuse online violence against women and girls and perpetuate harm.
3. Provide girls, women and other marginalized groups with digital education and technology for more creative solutions. Promote gender equality and equity for a sustainable digital future.
4. Prioritize body confidence of young women and girls by providing mental health programs and body-confidence building interventions both online and offline.
#SheSurfsFreedom
Sources:
https://webfoundation.org
Article: Online crisis facing women and girls threatens global progress on gender equality
https://www.womankind.org.uk
Dove Global Girls Beauty and Confidence Report