Gender Digital Divide Risk Mitigation Technical Note

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) has been researching and publishing on this topic for over 15 years, producing a range of research and case studies. APC has also developed tools to support women in responding to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (GBV), including country maps for reporting cases and a digital security first aid kit for human rights defenders. The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) has conducted a desk review on cyberviolence against women and girls, examining existing research and gaps in the research as well as best practices. While the review is EU-focused, many of the patterns and recommendations can be applied to other contexts. The EIGE review highlights the need for standardized metrics and rigorous qualitative or quantitative research on ICT risks. The Girl Effect has developed a safeguarding policy for girls using digital tools, outlining principles to keep girls' privacy, security, and safety at the center of all digital development. The policy provides guidance on how to approach digital initiatives and programs involving girls, ensuring that any risks are mitigated and planned for. The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) has developed a framework for understanding technology-facilitated GBV and a guide on how to measure it. The ICRW has also conducted research on the negative and unintended consequences of gender-based initiatives. The Gender Digital Divide Risk Mitigation Technical Note highlights the importance of addressing the individual use of mobile and the Internet, particularly in mobile-first contexts. The note emphasizes the need for strengthening internal and partner capacity for risk mitigation and safeguarding. Several organizations have developed digital literacy toolkits and resources to support women and girls in using ICT safely. The GSMA Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit includes a section on navigating risks and has been adapted for use with women and girls in Guatemala. The Internet Saathi program offers short, highly visual lessons on basic smartphone use, Internet use, and online safety. The Mozilla Women and Web Literacy Program provides a range of resources, including teaching kits on cyberviolence, sexting, hacking, and online abuse. The program also offers resources for setting up ICT and digital literacy clubs for women. Several organizations have developed digital security toolkits and resources for users and their networks. The Access Now digital security helpline offers 24/7 support and advice to activists, while the Chayn DIY online safety guide provides practical advice and examples on how to mitigate risks when online. The Cybersmile Foundation offers an online help center with advice on a range of topics related to online risks for women and girls. The Internews Safe Sisters toolkit is designed specifically for women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa, making digital security less complicated and more relevant to real users. The Take Back the Tech guide helps users identify if a friend or relative is the victim of online abuse, with guidance on how to report it. The VPN Mentor Empowering Internet Safety Guide for Women aims to teach women and girls to navigate the Internet without risk or fear. For lawmakers, judges, and people in legal systems, the Tech Safety resources provide materials for different stakeholders using ICT in the GBV arena. These include toolkits for judges and people working in judicial systems to understand laws and recourse mechanisms, as well as toolkits for developing digital services to support victims of GBV. For activists, campaigners, and women's organizations, the Fix the Glitch toolkit provides guidance on how to address online abuse and harassment. The toolkit includes a range of resources and tools to support activists in their work.