In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world witnessed a rapid shift towards digital solutions across various sectors. One critical area that embraced this change was the prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV). With the increasing reliance on digital technologies, practitioners now have an opportunity to enhance their skills and improve service delivery in low-resource settings and among refugee populations. This blog post explores the key findings from a recent qualitative study on this topic and offers practical insights for practitioners.
The Shift to Digital: A New Era for GBV Services
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the rapid digitalization of GBV services worldwide. Organizations working with women and children in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) and among forcibly displaced populations were no exception. The study titled "A qualitative investigation of gender-based violence prevention and response using digital technologies in low resource settings and refugee populations" sheds light on how service providers navigated this transition.
Key Findings from the Study
- Spectrum of Digitalized Services: The study identified a wide range of services that were successfully digitalized during the pandemic. These included public information dissemination, virtual training sessions, online support groups, remote reporting mechanisms, and specialized care through telehealth.
- Challenges of the Gender Digital Divide: A significant barrier to effective digitalization is the gender digital divide. This refers to disparities in access to digital infrastructure, availability of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies), quality of devices, digital skills, and harmful gender norms that limit women's use of technology.
- Risks of Digital Violence: An unintended consequence of increased digitalization is the rise in technology-facilitated violence. This includes online harassment, grooming, and electronic blackmail, which pose new challenges for service providers.
Practical Insights for Practitioners
Practitioners can draw valuable lessons from these findings to enhance their service delivery:
1. Embrace Technology but Be Cautious
While digitalization offers numerous benefits, it is essential to balance these with potential risks. Practitioners should ensure that digital services are safe, equitable, and effective by addressing both individual and environmental aspects of the gender digital divide.
2. Enhance Digital Literacy
Improving digital skills among both service providers and survivors is crucial. Training programs should focus on equipping women with the necessary skills to navigate digital platforms safely and effectively.
3. Address Privacy Concerns
Privacy is a significant concern when delivering GBV services digitally. Practitioners should ensure that survivors have access to private spaces where they can safely engage with online services without fear of exposure or retaliation.
4. Develop Robust Reporting Mechanisms
Remote reporting mechanisms should be secure and accessible to all survivors. Practitioners must work towards creating user-friendly platforms that instill confidence in survivors to report incidents without fear.
The Path Forward: Encouraging Further Research
The study highlights the importance of ongoing research in understanding the nuances of digitalization in GBV services. Practitioners are encouraged to engage with further research to stay informed about emerging trends and best practices in this evolving field.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: A qualitative investigation of gender-based violence prevention and response using digital technologies in low resource settings and refugee populations.
