Preventing Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse: Global Responses to Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence
SWGfL
Session 397
From victim support to platform accountability: advancing global responses to technology-facilitated gender-based violence
Non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse, has emerged as one of the most significant forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), affecting millions of women and girls globally. The adoption of the UN Cybercrime Convention, including Article 16, marks a major milestone in the international recognition of NCII as a serious form of digital harm. However, significant challenges remain in translating legal commitments into practical prevention, victim support, enforcement, and platform accountability.
This multistakeholder session will examine how governments, regulators, civil society organisations, victim support services, and technology platforms can strengthen global responses to NCII and wider forms of TFGBV. The discussion will explore emerging policy and regulatory approaches, practical implementation challenges, and opportunities for international cooperation.
Bringing together representatives from regulatory authorities, European policy institutions, frontline victim support services, and civil society, the session will focus on real-world experiences and lessons learned. Particular attention will be given to implementation of Article 16 of the UN Cybercrime Convention, survivor-centred support mechanisms, platform responsibilities, and the role of preventative technologies in reducing harm and supporting victims.
The discussion will also consider the growing impact of AI-generated intimate image abuse, the challenges posed by cross-border investigations and evidence sharing, and the importance of ensuring that victims have access to effective reporting, support, and redress mechanisms regardless of where they are located.
Rather than focusing solely on the scale of the problem, the session aims to identify practical actions that stakeholders can take to strengthen prevention, improve victim outcomes, and enhance international cooperation. Participants will explore how policy, technology, regulation, and frontline practice can work together to address emerging threats while protecting human rights and promoting safer digital environments.
The session will conclude with a call for stronger collaboration between governments, international organisations, technology companies, and civil society to advance implementation of global commitments and support coordinated responses to technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Emily is a senior advisor to StopNCII and the Revenge Porn Helpline, and works with NGOs and digital platforms on IBSA and other online harms. Her background is as a criminal lawyer specialising in serious sexual violence against women and children.
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C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
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C4. Capacity building
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C5. Building confidence and security in use of ICTs
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C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
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C11. International and regional cooperation
This session contributes directly to WSIS Action Lines C1, C4, C5, C10 and C11.
It supports C1 by bringing together governments, regulators, civil society, victim support services, international organisations, and technology companies to address non-consensual intimate image abuse (NCII) through coordinated multistakeholder action. It contributes to C4 through the sharing of practical experiences, capacity-building approaches, and implementation lessons for policymakers, regulators, law enforcement, and frontline support services.
The session aligns with C5 by exploring measures that strengthen trust, safety, and security in digital environments, including victim-centred reporting mechanisms, preventative technologies, and platform accountability. It supports C10 by examining the ethical and human rights dimensions of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including issues of consent, dignity, privacy, and AI-generated intimate image abuse. Finally, the session advances C11 by promoting international cooperation, cross-border implementation of Article 16 of the UN Cybercrime Convention, and collaborative approaches to victim protection and enforcement.
Through these discussions, the session aims to support safer, more inclusive, and rights-respecting digital environments for women and girls globally.
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Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
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Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
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Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
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Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
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Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
This session contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by addressing non-consensual intimate image abuse (NCII) as a growing form of technology-facilitated gender-based violence that undermines safety, equality, wellbeing, and participation in digital societies.
The session is most directly linked to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by examining how women and girls are disproportionately affected by online abuse and by identifying practical measures to strengthen prevention, protection, and access to support. It also contributes to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) through discussion of legal frameworks, victim-centred justice mechanisms, implementation of Article 16 of the UN Cybercrime Convention, and international cooperation to address digital harms. In addition, the session supports SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by bringing together governments, regulators, international organisations, civil society, victim support services, and technology companies to develop coordinated responses to a shared global challenge.
By focusing on practical implementation, capacity building, platform accountability, survivor support, and cross-border collaboration, the session aims to advance safer, more inclusive, and rights-respecting digital environments. These outcomes support broader sustainable development efforts by enabling women and girls to participate more safely and confidently in digital spaces and by strengthening international cooperation to address emerging technology-related harms.
- Objective 1: Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
- Objective 3: Foster an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects, protects and promotes human rights
- Objective 5: Enhance international governance of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity