This year’s campaign was implemented as part of the “Women At The Center: Rising Up Against the Pandemic of Violence Against Women” programme, carried out by UNFPA with the financial support from Japan’s “Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited”. The campaign focused on addressing gender-based violence (GBV) perpetrated through technology. The campaign aimed to draw public attention to the issue of using technology as a tool for violence against women and girls, promote safe internet usage, and raise awareness among the wider population about mechanisms for protection against violence.

It is worth noting that 85% of women worldwide have experienced or witnessed technology-facilitated violence. Additionally, 57% of women globally have had their online videos or images misused or distorted.

This initiative by UNFPA called on all sectors of society to unite in ensuring that women and girls can use technology safely.

As part of the campaign, materials on gender equality, gender-based violence, and mechanisms for protection against technology-facilitated violence were shared with the public across various platforms. Campaign’s awareness-raising video content highlighted the importance of combating GBV and drew attention to the ways of protection against digital violence.

Awareness-raising sessions, a key component of this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, were conducted in Baku, Absheron-Khizi, Ganja-Dashkasan, and Karabakh regions. These sessions, held in schools and communities, informed participants about different forms of technology-facilitated violence against women, including harassment, stalking, blackmail, and unauthorized sharing of personal information, as well as ways to protect against such acts. Prominent influencers participating in the events shared their experiences regarding the risks of sharing personal information on social media.

Additionally, as part of the campaign, UNFPA Azerbaijan introduced an online resource for protection against domestic violence. Individuals facing domestic or gender-based violence can use this platform to access detailed information about helplines, shelters, and other support services.