While digital technologies create opportunities for empowerment and connection, they have also become conduits for gender-based violence, disproportionately targeting women and girls—particularly those from marginalized communities, including ethnic/racial minorities and LGBTIQA+ individuals.
In 2025, the Organization of American States (OAS) adopted the Inter-American Model Law to Prevent, Punish, and Eradicate Gender-Based Digital Violence, marking a significant milestone in addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in Latin America and the Caribbean. Similar regulatory conversations and legal frameworks are emerging across Africa and Asia, reflecting a growing recognition of the urgent need to combat digital gender violence.
This session will provide a comparative analysis of legislative and regulatory approaches to gender-based digital violence in the Global South, using the OAS Model Law as a foundational reference. Regional experts will examine existing legal frameworks, draft laws, and policy initiatives, addressing key questions:
What protections currently exist?
Where are the critical gaps in legislation and enforcement?
What tensions arise in implementation?
What cross-regional lessons can be shared to strengthen responses and foster solidarity across the Global South?
The discussion aims to highlight both advancements and challenges, fostering dialogue on effective, rights-respecting strategies to prevent and redress digital gender violence.