Gender-based violence affects women, girls, and queer people in all their diversity, both online and offline. Digital tools and platforms are frequently used to target individuals and communities, spreading hate, abuse, and disinformation. These online attacks often mirror or amplify offline violence, creating a cycle that restricts participation, visibility, and safety across all areas of life.
For the 16 Days of Activism 2025, the Countering Backlash programme is leading a conversation examining the context of this digital abuse and strategies to push back. Experts from the Institute of Development Studies, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK), NEIM (Brazil), BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (Bangladesh), WOUGNET (Uganda), and Özyeğin University (Turkey) will explore different forms of online gender backlash in their respective contexts and discuss how intersectional feminist perspectives can inform research, policy, and collective action to foster safer, more inclusive online environments globally.
The webinar will conclude with time for an audience Q&A.
Speakers
- Maíra Kubík Mano, NEIM
- Sandra Aceng, WOUGNET
- Becky Faith, Institute of Development Studies
- Rachel Grant, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- Iffat Jahan Antara, Consultant, Countering Backlash
- Çimen Günay-Erkol, Özyeğin University
- Chair: Chloe Skinner, Institute of Development Studies