Gender equality efforts ‘eroded’ by tech-based abuse

Technology-facilitated abuse and harassment have become normalized among young people; Advocates have called for better education to ensure people understand it is a crime.

The emerging technology that enables gender-based violence was discussed at an event hosted by Australia on the sidelines of the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Speaking at the event, Chanel Contos, founder of Teach Us Consent Australia, said any moves towards gender equality were being eroded by the normalization of technology-facilitated abuse among young people.

“Technology-facilitated abuse is a very broad term, but if we think specifically about sending penis images without consent or using artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit content, it is something that happens so suddenly that, especially among young people, it has become part of their fabric,” he said.

“There are apps that mean you can do this in seconds… and it’s a very sexist issue, because 90 to 95 percent of these non-consensual, sexually explicit images are of women.”

Ms Contos said young people needed to be educated that this type of abuse was a crime rather than typical bullying or part of growing up.

“This, when normalized, erodes all the strides that have been made towards gender equality, and I think it continues to re-establish a gender hierarchy that does not serve any woman or girl around the world,” she said.

Meanwhile, UNFPA deputy director-general Pio Smith praised Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant for leading the rest of the world when it comes to responding to technology.

“This comes at a deep personal and professional cost, but it is leaders like this who really make a difference,” Mr. Smith said.

“They make room for many other women and men to follow that policy and look at the inscribed impact that her work, her leadership, her courage had.”

More than 3,000 delegates representing governments, charities, non-governmental organizations and advocacy groups have been accredited to attend this year’s CSW conference.

The main theme of this year is ensuring access to justice and empowering all women and girls.

In his final speech to the commission before the end of his term as UN Secretary-General, António Guterres addressed power gaps as a natural cause of gender inequality.

“We see these power gaps everywhere, from the political arena to economic decision-making to the technologies that shape our future, including artificial intelligence,” he told delegates at City Hall on Tuesday local time.

“Patriarchy is rampant in the Silicon Valleys of the world, and that is where power is increasingly concentrated today, and power is never given willingly, even though power sharing benefits everyone.”

Mr. Guterres praised the work of everyone in the room who were at the forefront of defending hard-won rights for women and girls.

But he also issued a warning.

“A bitter wind is blowing in the world, this wind is hardening attitudes and fueling reactions against women’s rights,” she said.

“Don’t give up. Progress is fragile. Rights can be taken away much faster than they are earned.”