Gender-based digital violence against women
Towards an Inter-American Model Law to Prevent, Punish, and Eradicate Gender-Based Digital Violence Against Women
Gender-based digital violence against women and girls is one of the most concerning issues in terms of women’s human rights, both for its growing impact and scope, as well as for the lack of tools to address it.
The experiences of women, adolescents and girls show that the violence they face in digital environments has a concrete impact on all spheres of their lives, both in the private and public spheres, as well as in virtual and physical spaces, reflecting the continuity of this form of violence.
- 73% of women have experienced some form of online violence.
- 23% of women and girls have faced online harassment or abuse at least once in their lifetime, and at least 1 in 10 has experienced some form of cyberviolence since the age of 15.
- Nearly 60% of girls and young women worldwide have been victims of cyberbullying on social media platforms.
- 90% of victims of non-consensual distribution of intimate images are women.
Source: «Cyberviolence and Cyberharassment Against Women and Girls in the Framework of the Belém do Pará Convention»
Although some countries in the region have made progress in the recognition of digital violence and its incorporation into regulatory frameworks, there are still significant gaps in regulation, the creation of attention and protection mechanisms, the implementation of policies and programs to address it, the development of investigation protocols and the adoption of standards that incorporate the highest standards of international law.
In response to this reality, since 2017, the Committee of Experts of MESECVI has consistently warned about the impact of gender-based digital violence against women and the urgent need for comprehensive tools to address it. As part of this effort, both the Committee of Experts in 2022, and the Conference of States Parties in 2024, established the mandate to develop a Model Law to help establish the highest standards for the protection of women’s human rights against the different manifestations of this violence and to guide countries in adopting legislation, mechanisms and effective policies for its regulation and addressing.
This initiative has been made possible thanks to the support of the Republic of Italy and a coalition of States, international organizations, and civil society organizations. The process aims to ensure a participatory and inclusive approach, recognizing both achievements and ongoing efforts across the region. As part of this work, MESECVI has conducted in-person and virtual consultations in various countries, including Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Panama.
On this page, you can access the Model Law project, which we invite you to review. Additionally, as part of the public consultation process, you are welcome to submit your inputs.
Inputs can be sent to:
Email address: mesecvi@oas.org
Email subject line: Call for inputs Model Law on Digital Violence
Word limit: 3000 words
Accepted file formats:
Word, PDF
Accepted Languages:
English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Galery
Explore MESECVI reports and guidelines on gender-based digital and technology-facilitated violence against women
Cyber-violence and cyber-bullying against women and girls in the framework of the Belém Do Pará Convention (OAS/CIM/MESECVI and UN Women, 2022)
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Women's cybersecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences, risks, and self-care strategies in the new digital normality (MESECVI & CICTE, 2021)
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Online gender-based violence against women and girls. A guide to basic concepts, digital safety tools, and response strategies (MESECVI & CICTE, 2021)
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