Council of Europe Unveils Roadmap to Combat Online Violence Against Women and Girls

The Council of Europe has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap aimed at combating online violence against women and girls across its member states. The initiative focuses on addressing issues such as cyber harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and other forms of digital abuse that disproportionately affect women. It emphasises coordinated action among governments, tech companies, and civil society to prevent, detect, and respond to such harms. The roadmap also highlights the role of education, awareness, and victim support systems in tackling online abuse. This move reflects growing international concern over the impact of digital platforms on gender-based violence.

Legal Significance

The roadmap signals a push toward strengthening legal frameworks to specifically address online gender-based violence, which has often been inadequately covered by existing laws. It reinforces the importance of aligning national laws with international human rights standards, particularly regarding privacy, dignity, and freedom from discrimination. The initiative also encourages greater accountability for technology companies in moderating harmful content and protecting users. Overall, it represents a significant step toward developing harmonised legal responses to emerging forms of digital violence across jurisdictions.

📰 Source: Council of Europe (English)