LocationsUSPC launches new SDG Partnership programme on integrated support mechanism for TF-GBV survivors
October 30, 2025
On 30 October 2025, the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) launched a Call for Proposals for its new SDG Partnership programme on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TF-GBV), in collaboration with the Women’s Human Rights Institute of Korea (WHRIK).* The webinar centred on the Republic of Korea (ROK)’s Integrated Support Mechanism for TF-GBV Survivors. As TF-GBV is increasingly recognized as a global, gendered threat to human development, this programme seeks to strengthen partner countries’ capacity to provide comprehensive support—a central tenet of the holistic recovery of TF-GBV survivors.
*WHRIK is a government agency under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family that centrally coordinates protection and support measures for survivors of gender-based violence in the Republic of Korea.
New thematic focus on integrated TF-GBV survivor support mechanism
TF-GBV is escalating worldwide, with nearly two out of every five women having experienced online abuse. As digital connectivity grows, so do the risks, underscoring the urgent need for survivor-centred responses.
Building on USPC’s SDG Partnerships programme on combatting gender-based violence, which has shared the ROK’s Sunflower Center model and strengthened police capacity to address TF-GBV, the new focus shifts toward integrated survivor support mechanisms. This evolution aligns with UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2026-2029, highlighting gender equality and digital transformation as key priorities.
Korea’s related approach, led by the National Center for Digital Sex Crime Response (NCDSCR) under WHRIK, offers a global best-practice model. It combines 24/7 counseling, legal and medical referrals, and AI-powered tools for rapid content detection and removal. By engaging multi-sectoral actors and prioritizing survivors’ needs, the mechanism reduces risks of re-traumatization while promoting systemic change.
This thematic focus reflects a commitment to holistic, innovative solutions that help countries tackle emerging digital harms and advance women and girls’ rights in an increasingly connected world.
SDG Partnership programme launch: Webinar highlights and key messages
The launch webinar convened speakers from UNDP, WHRIK, and NCDSCR, bringing together 36 UNDP Country Offices (COs), a number that reflects the strong global interest in combatting TF-GBV. The session featured an introduction to the ROK’s integrated TF-GBV support mechanism and an overview of USPC’s Call for Proposals process.
Opening the session, Anne Juepner, Director of USPC, underscored the importance of collective, multi-stakeholder action.
“No single institution can tackle technology-facilitated gender-based violence alone. A holistic, survivor-centred, and technology-enabled approach is therefore essential.”Anne Juepner, Director of UNDP Seoul Policy Centre
Misoon Kim, Center Lead of NCDSCR, delivered the opening speech on behalf of WHRIK.
“The establishment of the National Center marked a meaningful turning point, institutionally demonstrating that not only the investigation of perpetrators and regulation of platforms, but also the protection and support of victims, are core responsibilities of the state.”Misoon Kim, Center Lead of the National Center for Digital Sex Crime Response
Next steps
USPC and WHRIK will jointly review proposals submitted by UNDP COs and select two partner countries for the new SDG Partnership programme. The selected countries will be announced on 10 December 2025, coinciding with International Human Rights Day and the final day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. This timely and symbolic announcement will underscore UNDP’s commitment to ending gender-based violence and promoting survivor-centred solutions, emphasizing its role in fostering meaningful progress toward gender equality and human rights.
Over the course of the next 12 months, the selected countries will have the opportunity to engage in knowledge exchanges with technical experts from WHRIK via customizable webinars, workshops, study visits, and advisory missions.
Additionally, the selected COs will receive seed funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, through USPC, to contextualize these mechanisms within their national contexts, fostering stronger TF-GBV survivor support response system and driving sustainable, catalytic impact.
**UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) shares Korea’s tested-and-proven policy tools with other countries through SDG Partnerships. SDG Partnerships provide a combination of support, including partnership development with Korean institutions, seed funding, technical assistance, and policy advisory services. It utilizes UNDP’s global network of country offices and the policy expertise and know-how of partner organizations.
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