A month on from International Women’s Day, SWGfL is continuing to highlight how online harm disproportionately impacts women and girls.
Following the launch of last month’s campaigns, which focused on the impact of online harm and the 2026 International Women’s Day theme of collaboration, we spoke to members of the SWGfL Senior Management Team to hear their thoughts on how online safety practices can be strengthened.
For this article, we gathered the thoughts of Sophie Mortimer, Head of Support Services; Sophie Slee, Head of HR and Business Operations; Claire Hayden, Head of Customer Services & Operations; and Charlotte Aynsley, Head of Online Safety Policy.
This article reflects on online safety risks, the importance of collaborative initiatives, and why days like International Women’s Day are so important.
Supporting International Women’s Day
Our Senior Management Team reflected on International Women’s Day as an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women, while also acknowledging the barriers that still remain. Their views reinforced that IWD is not only a moment of recognition, but also a reminder of the ongoing responsibility to champion equality, dignity and respect throughout the year. These reflections were particularly focused on the importance of elevating women’s voices, recognising the challenges women and girls continue to face, and helping to create safer, fairer and more inclusive spaces.
Claire Hayden, Head of Customer Services & Operations
‘’Women and girls can be disproportionately affected by online harms such as harassment, image-based abuse, and, in some cases, misogynistic content or attitudes online. These experiences can affect wellbeing, confidence and participation, which is why it is so important to promote online cultures where women and girls feel safe, respected and included. In the context of the Assisted Monitoring Service, this reinforces the importance of identifying harmful content early and supporting appropriate safeguarding responses.’’
Charlotte Aynsley, Head of Online Safety Policy
‘’It’s important that we elevate women’s voices and celebrate their achievements. Having been at the UN Women’s event in NY, it was so inspiring to see large numbers of women from all across the world collaborating to do great things with many in very adverse circumstances and at far greater disadvantage than us in the UK!’’
Online Safety Risks Impacting Women and Girls
The Senior Management Team reflected on the wide-ranging and interconnected risks that online harm presents for women and girls. Their responses recognised that harms such as harassment, image-based abuse, coercive behaviour and misogynistic content can affect wellbeing, confidence and participation across all areas of life, from education and personal relationships to the workplace.
They also highlighted that these experiences are often shaped by wider structural inequalities, which can be intensified in online spaces through anonymity, visibility and reach. Collectively, these reflections reinforced the importance of early intervention, strong safeguarding measures and a joined-up approach to creating safer digital environments where women and girls feel respected, supported and able to thrive.
Sophie Mortimer, Head of Support Services
‘’Online spaces present huge positive opportunities for everyone, but also the potential for great harm. We know that women are disproportionately affected by online abuse; 98% of intimate images reported for removal by the Revenge Porn Helpline are of women. … The online world reflects an offline world where structural inequalities impact every area of women’s lives. Online, the attitudes that underpin these inequalities are supercharged by visibility, reach and anonymity that make these spaces frequently unsafe for women.’’
Strengthening Online Safety Practices Through Collaboration
Through SWGfL initiatives such as StopNCII.org and the Assisted Monitoring Service, we understand the importance of collaboration, whether with industry platforms or partners, in enhancing our reach to those in need.
Collaborative approaches strengthen online safety practices, allowing for innovation and informed action. When reflecting on the importance of collaboration, our Senior Management Team highlighted positive initiatives within SWGfL, as well as proposals that could strengthen online safety even further.
Responses highlighted that effective collaboration is rooted in trust, openness and shared learning, enabling teams to respond to complex and sensitive issues with consistency and care.
They also recognised the value of drawing together insight from different services, experiences and sectors to ensure responses remain informed, joined-up and adaptable as new harms emerge. Collectively, these reflections reinforced that collaboration is not only central to improving practice, but also to modelling the values and culture needed to create safer, more respectful digital environments for everyone.
Sophie Slee, Head of HR and Business Operations
‘’From an organisational culture perspective, collaboration is essential to how we support people and continue to evangelise as a team to continue in our mission, that everyone should benefit from technology, free from harm. Creating safer online environments also means creating workplaces where teams can share learning, reflect openly, and feel supported when dealing with complex or sensitive issues. In my role, I see collaboration as something we nurture through trust, consistency, and care, as a member of the Leadership team, it’s something to quietly model in how we work together.’’
We would like to thank members of the SWGfL Senior Management Team for reflecting on how online harm impacts women and girls, alongside the importance of collaborative initiatives, in line with this year’s International Women’s Day theme.
To learn more about the work we are doing to highlight the prevalence of online abuse, please read our article.
