Central Asian youth against digital violence: regional knowledge exchange to build resilient communities

December 4, 2025

Group photo of diverse attendees at a conference, some holding certificates, with flags and banners. — Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Saltanat Boteu

Astana hosted a regional case championship focused on finding innovative solutions to counter digital and gender-based violence in university settings. The initiative was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan with financial support from the Government of Japan under the regional program on preventing violent extremism in collaboration with UN agencies in Kazakhstan: the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Country Office of the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Women, and UNICEF. The event brought together 30 young participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

As digitalization accelerates worldwide, risks of online radicalization and digital violence are growing, particularly among young people, who remain the most active and vulnerable group. Social media and online platforms are increasingly used to spread disinformation, leak and misuse personal data, and create deepfakes using artificial intelligence. These forms of digital violence undermine young people’s psychological resilience, contribute to marginalization, and create fertile ground for radicalization.

International studies also show a steady rise in digital violence: 38 percent of women globally have faced the spread of personal data and image manipulation online.

Photo: Man in suit speaks at podium, holding microphone, with multiple international flags behind. — Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Iris Mambur

"Japan remains firmly committed to supporting global efforts to protect women’s rights and strengthen social resilience. Combating gender-based violence is essential not only for individual well-being but also for sustainable development,"

said H.E. Yasumasa Iijima, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Experts link the growing risks to the widespread availability of AI tools, the lack of unified digital security standards, insufficient training for educators and parents, and legal gaps regarding deep-fakes and digital manipulation.

Photograph of a man in a suit speaking into a microphone, with US, Japan, and UN flags behind. — Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Iris Mambur

"Today, awareness and digital literacy are becoming fundamental safety skills that empower individuals to protect themselves and foster a more responsible online environment. For UNDP, this factor has become a key priority for advancing the architecture of digital public infrastructure in partner countries, while also promoting digital competencies and AI literacy through its projects in partnership with the Government of Kazakhstan,"

emphasized Sukhrob Khojimatov, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.

The UNDP Human Development Report 2025 states that, in addition to access to technology, achieving equality for girls and women requires expanding their role as digital solution creators and leaders in shaping the technology agenda.

Man in a suit speaks into a microphone, holding a blue folder, with flags in the background. — Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Iris Mambur

"Projects developed with youth participation are not just about innovation, they represent a tangible contribution to protecting human dignity and the rights of women and girls in our country and across the region. Kazakhstan has already strengthened legislation against gender-based violence. In this context, regional cooperation on combating digital violence is more relevant than ever, and the UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty can serve as an effective platform for this work,"

said Didar Temenov, Director of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The championship was built around a case based on real incidents: In one of the region’s universities, a closed online group was discovered where photos of female students were collected and published without consent, AI was used to create compromising images, and humiliating “ratings” were compiled. Participants discussed possible approaches to counter such practices—from using AI to detect illicit content and introducing elements of university digital policy to mechanisms for supporting victims.

Speaker in orange hijab at podium; flags and students in orange robes behind.

Female speaker holding microphone on stage with UN Women and WHO banners behind.

Group dining at a table; bright red-green floral attire, foreground wears a white helmet.

Photograph of a person with a curly blonde wig and orange striped jacket talking to others.

Speaker in blazer with microphone and papers, flags and a projector screen behind.

Photo: person in a white hoodie seated at a restaurant table, other diners in the background.

People discuss around a table in a conference room; colorful SDG wheel in the background.

Business meeting with a woman in a blue blazer speaking at a table, flags in the background.

Panel of speakers at a conference table with water bottles; WHO banner in background.

Conference panel with attendees seated at a table, orange scarves, nameplates and water bottles.

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan/ Iris Mambur

"This championship showed me that even one idea can change the status quo. We want online spaces to be places of opportunity, not fear. I believe our team took a step toward that, and that youth can be the driving force for change,"

noted Rukniya Niyozbekova, captain of the winning team and participant from Tajikistan.

The work was supported by mentors and experts from UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, as well as representatives of universities, private tech companies, and civil society.

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