A lot of people hearing the phrase “violence against women” tend to think physical or verbal abuse’ committed behind closed doors (some do not even think of psychological or economic abuse) and definitely not violence committed by a person(s) hiding behind a screen, which can take place in different forms through digital and creative means. 

Women make up the majority of those not only exposed to different forms of violence but also to different places where such violence may be expressed / committed to. 

GREVIO

The Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO*) in monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, has identified major gaps in domestic laws regarding violence against women through such technologies and online and that this dimension of violence is overlooked [1]. On the eve of the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, i.e. on 24 November 2021, GREVIO published General Recommendation No. 1 for the digital dimension of violence against women  (the “Recommendation for the digital dimension of violence“), the first one adopted by the Council of Europe, which outlines the problem of both gender-based violence against women committed online and facilitated by technology, while making specific recommendations to its Member States. 

It is important to point out that, the Recommendation for the digital dimension of violence has introduced the term ‘digital violence against women’ as a term which embodies a wide range of behaviours that fall within the term of violence against women, as provided in article 3a of the Istanbul Convention. 

Digital dimension of violence against women

This term includes all acts of gender- based violence against women that result in, or are likely to result in, physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life” [2].

Non-consensual image or video sharing, coercion and threats, including rape threats, sexualised bullying and other forms of intimidation, online sexual harassment, impersonation, online stalking or stalking via the Internet of Things as well as psychological abuse and economic harm perpetrated via digital means against women and girls all come under the above definition.

Johanna Nelles, Executive Secretary of GREVIO stated, that data from various sources indicate the increased digital violence and use of technology against women and girls, whilst at the same time impunity tends to be the rule rather than the exception.