This report provides a summary of the findings and recommendations contained in the five regional reports Addressing the Role of Bystanders on Online Violence Against Women and Girls in the Commonwealth produced by the Secretariat in 2023.
The report presents the root causes and impacts of cyberviolence as being gender based, with a disproportionate impact on females where there is intersectionality of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, poverty, disability and other socioeconomic factors.
Cyberviolence is emerging as one of the largest threats facing the online world today, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent surveys
conducted across countries worldwide have indicated that women and girls are victimised disproportionately online as compared with men and boys.
Within the Commonwealth, cyberviolence is recognised as a serious problem, notably as it affects the full realisation of gender equality and violates women’s rights.
This report is a synthesis of the major findings and recommendations of the five regional reports. It also includes a Road Map (Action Plan) as a way
forward to address the problem of online violence against women and girls.
