Through this effort, the initiative seeks to strengthen regional collaboration, improve the legal and institutional environment, and promote the integration of innovative technological solutions to address the growing threat of TF GBV in the digital age. It also aims to foster South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) by facilitating knowledge exchange, best practices, and technical expertise across the Western Balkans.

Expected results:

1. Deliver a comprehensive assessment of the legal, policy, institutional, and technological frameworks addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF GBV) in the Western Balkans, highlighting key strengths and gaps.

2. The findings will inform actionable recommendations to enhance institutional capacities, improve coordination among stakeholders, and align national approaches with international standards.

3. Discuss a roadmap for systemic improvements and collaborative initiatives to combat TF GBV effectively across the region.

Summary from the Event

The online validation workshop held on 25 June 2025, offered a comprehensive analysis of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF GBV) in the Western Balkans, bringing together regional experts and stakeholders for in-depth discussions on its definition, impacts, and existing challenges. Participants emphasized the absence of a universally accepted legal framework on TF GBV, highlighting how this gap complicates effective legislative and institutional responses to both victims and perpetrators. Presentations illustrated various manifestations of TF GBV, such as cyberstalking, non-consensual image sharing, online harassment, digitally amplified threats, identity theft, gender-based hate speech, deepfakes, and doxing. These acts, increasingly common and gender-targeted, severely impact victims' psychological health, personal safety, and professional lives. Experts shared alarming research data reflecting the severe and widespread nature of TFGBV and impact on victims, especially women and girls, with particular vulnerability noted for minority groups, youth, LGBTIQ+ persons, and public figures such as journalists, activists, and politicians. The workshop emphasized TFGBV's significant psychological, economic, and social consequences, which deter participation in digital spaces, reduce trust in online platforms, and impose substantial societal costs. Victims often experience anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and reputational damage, which further silences their voices and participation in public discourse. The online environment, once seen as a space for freedom and expression, increasingly becomes a site of fear, control, and silencing—especially for those already marginalized.

Case studies from Western Balkan countries revealed current legal frameworks' inadequacies, which often fail to explicitly recognize or criminalize specific forms of digital violence. In many jurisdictions, law enforcement and judiciary remain unfamiliar with newer manifestations of TFGBV, such as deepfake generation or coordinated digital hate campaigns. Participants called attention to insufficient institutional capacities, limited specialized training for law enforcement and judicial authorities, outdated protocols for handling digital evidence, and the lack of holistic victim support services. Additionally, inconsistencies in data reporting and underreporting of incidents due to fear of retaliation or stigma were highlighted as ongoing obstacles. Victims who do seek justice often face revictimization during the reporting process, further exacerbating their trauma.

The discussion also pointed to the crucial role of technology companies and internet service providers in both the spread and potential mitigation of TFGBV. Participants urged digital platforms to enhance transparency in their content moderation processes, invest in AI-based detection of abusive content, and establish accessible and effective user-reporting systems. There was a strong call for private sector accountability, especially in cases where platforms fail to act on harmful content, allowing perpetrators to continue abuse unchecked. Platforms must not only respond to abuse but also proactively design their systems to prevent it, through safer UX design, privacy settings, and built-in support tools.

In addition to national responses, the workshop emphasized the importance of regional and international cooperation. Coordinated action is vital for addressing crimes that transcend borders and for harmonizing legal and institutional responses. Examples from countries that have established national task forces or multi-agency coalitions provided a model for other nations seeking to address TFGBV in a comprehensive manner. Bilateral and multilateral agreements, supported by regional bodies and international organizations, were highlighted as crucial for the effective prosecution of cross-border offenders and the sharing of digital forensic tools and expertise.