This year’s International Women’s Day highlights the importance of collaboration. Within the online safety space, collaboration means coming together to address the issues affecting women and girls, creating opportunities for meaningful conversations and identifying ways to effectively safeguard and support those in need.
At SWGfL, our mission is to ensure everyone can benefit from technology, free from harm. International Women’s Day creates an important opportunity to highlight how women and girls can stay safe online. This is particularly relevant as we see developments from the UK Government that will impact women and girls, alongside proposals designed to better protect those affected by intimate image abuse.
Starting on the 8th of March, we will be sharing insights from the women within SWGfL - experts who will highlight available support, initiatives, and practical actions that can help protect women and girls facing online harm. The theme of collaboration and generosity will also be explored, demonstrating how working together can strengthen the actions needed to evolve the online safety landscape.
The Revenge Porn Helpline will also be opening up opportunities for businesses and organisations to engage in conversations around adult online harm. As intimate image abuse disproportionately affects women in the UK, this is a timely initiative that aims to accelerate collaboration and strengthen support for women across different communities.
Support within the education sector will also continue to be highlighted, ensuring that everyone, particularly girls, receives the safeguarding they need to address both online and offline harm. This follows our recent report, which draws on evidence from ProjectEVOLVE and underlines the need for explicit, developmentally sequenced, and assessment-led approaches to tackling misogyny and harmful behaviour.
Online safety support is for everyone, and both during and beyond International Women’s Day, our commitment to providing that support continues. The day provides a timely opportunity to highlight the issues affecting women and girls and the collective action required to address them.
If you would like to learn more or get involved in conversations across SWGfL and the Revenge Porn Helpline, please follow us on social media.
