The dark side of digitalization: Technology-facilitated violence against women in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The research “The Dark Side of Digitalization: Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women in Eastern Europe and Central Asia” provides new insights into technology-facilitated violence against women in Southeast and Eastern Europe as well as Central Asia. This study draws upon surveys with over 12,000 women across the region and interviews with state and civil society representatives.

The research explores the types and prevalence of technology-facilitated violence against women in 13 countries of the region - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo^[1], Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Ukraine - and its consequences on women and girls’ attitudes, experiences and access to services. Furthermore, the publication maps the existing normative and institutional landscape, and role and perspective of relevant stakeholders in providing prevention and support services to survivors of technology-facilitated violence.

The research also includes the voices and perspectives of representatives from national gender mechanisms, ombuds offices, police, and civil society and presents recommended actions for state actors, civil society, regional and subregional institutions, philanthropies, and technology companies to strengthen the prevention of and response to technology-facilitated violence against women.
 

[1] References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).