From 2012-2015, FMA worked on the issue of technology-related violence against women (eVAW) through the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) Funding Leadership Opportunities for Women (FLOW) project. The project built on the work of seven countries: the Philippines, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mexico, Columbia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
At that time, an APC research study conducted in 12 countries through the MDG3 project revealed that the incidence of technology-related violence against women (VAW) was increasing. Cyberstalking, sexual harassment, surveillance, and the unauthorized use and manipulation of personal information, including images and videos, were the most common cases documented.
The study found that women and girls who fall victim do not know what to do to stop the abuse, what charges they can report, who they should report to and what help they can get. In these countries, policies, regulations or services that respond to these new forms of violence do not exist or are inadequate. Thus, it was urgent to formulate effective policies that protect the rights of individual users and develop remedies to the increasing incidence of technology-related VAW.
The project supported national activities within the countries through global campaigning, capacity building, research, and policy advocacy efforts. It enabled NGOs, individuals, policy-makers and state and private actors to develop a deeper understanding of and response to technology-related violence against women.