The purpose of this paper is to assist women’s rights groups working to end VAW understand some of the implications of the intersection between these violations and ICTs. It also aims to encourage these groups and other key actors to invest in policy-making processes and advocacy work in this area. This paper aims to inform about and assist anti-VAW organisations in incorporating ICTs in their current work and to stimulate action-oriented policy dialogues to address these new forms of violence against women and girls.

This paper is not an exhaustive assessment of the current state of VAW but rather aims to deepen analysis of some of the interconnections between ICT and VAW. The connections between ICTs and VAW are explored through case studies of incidents where private images of women were distributed without their authorisation. This form of technology related VAW was one of the most prevalent forms which emerged from consultations with partners and from media reports. This is not to diminish the severity and frequency of other violations including online sexual harassment, cyberstalking, surveillance or identity theft.