The threat or sharing of non-consensual intimate images (NCII) has become an increasingly serious form of cybercrime and a growing manifestation of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). The rapid expansion of digital platforms and the emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) have intensified this problem, making it easier to create, manipulate, monetise and distribute intimate images without consent. Because online abuse can cross borders instantly, responding effectively to NCII requires coordinated international action and shared standards rooted in human rights principles.
Why a Model National Framework for NCII?
In recent years, governments and international organisations have begun strengthening laws and policies to address image-based abuse and other forms of TFGBV. However, these efforts remain fragmented. Current legal and policy frameworks vary widely between countries and regions, resulting in uneven protection for victims, inconsistent accountability for perpetrators, and limited expectations for technology companies to take responsibility for preventing and responding to abuse.
To help address these gaps, the UK Government - co-chair of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse - has collaborated with UN Women, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and SWGfL (home to the UK Revenge Porn Helpline and StopNCII.org) to develop a preliminary blueprint for a Model National Framework for Addressing Non-Consensual Intimate Images. Recognising that countries operate within diverse political, economic, and cultural contexts, it outlines core capabilities and promising practices across multiple sectors that governments, practitioners, and industry stakeholders may consider when developing or strengthening national responses and enhancing international coordination.
NCII Model National Framework Objectives
The Model National Framework for NCII is intended as an aspirational guide rather than a prescriptive set of rules. Rooted in universal human rights principles, the framework seeks to promote collaboration and shared responsibility while leaving flexibility for adaptation to local contexts. Importantly, it does not create legally binding obligations under domestic or international law. Drawing on lessons from the WeProtect Global Alliance’s Model National Response to end child sexual exploitation and abuse online, the proposed framework:
- Outlines key elements for a coordinated, whole-of-society response to NCII
- Focuses on preventing and addressing the creation, threat, and distribution of authentic, synthetic, or manipulated intimate images of identifiable adults without consent
- Aims to support the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, encourage survivor-centred and rights-based policies, and strengthen global coordination in tackling TFGBV and related cybercrimes.
Read the Full Working Text of the NCII Model National Framework & Join the Global Consultation
The UK Government, the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse, UN Women, UNODC and SWGfL are coordinating a global consultative process to further refine and build consensus towards the development of the Model National Framework for Addressing Non‑Consensual Intimate Images (NCII). This process will draw on multisectoral expertise to strengthen rights‑based, survivor‑centred, and evidence‑informed global standards for preventing and responding to adult image-based sexual abuse.