“I never used to think twice about what I posted online—until I saw someone like me get doxxed. Her address, phone number, even her family’s photos were spread by strangers just because she spoke out.”In today’s digital world, our personal information such as our names, locations, even the people we…

In recent years, trafficking in the Philippines has taken a disturbing turn as perpetrators use digital tools to recruit their victims. What was once happening mainly in remote brothels and through physical recruitment is now happening online, behind screens, under usernames, and in encrypted messag…

In a country where over 97 million individuals are connected to the internet, the digital platforms have become more than just tools for connection, they are now a vital part of everyday life. But beneath the ease and entertainment they offer lies a growing danger: sextortion, a disturbing and often…

Online gender-based violence (OGBV) refers to acts of harm, harassment, and discrimination that are perpetrated through or amplified by digital technologies and disproportionately impact women, LGBTQIA+ people, and other marginalized genders. As digital engagement grows in the Philippines, so  …

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the Internet have transformed the lives of many Filipinos across the world. The advancement of these technologies revolutionized the way we socialize and transact business, but most especially, how we gather and receive information.&nbs…

As a global leader in social media usage, the Philippines’ environment of pervasive disinformation, paired with a culture of patriarchal gender constructs, foster democratic backsliding and authoritarianism (Kunze et al., 2021). With the country’s low level of media literacy, Filipino people a…

The Philippines has had a total of 17 presidents. Out of these, 15 have been men. For much of its history, men have led the government, perpetuating the stereotype that men should hold control. Recent election data shows that women only hold about 28% of seats in the House of […]

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences examines violence against women and girls as a form, cause and consequence of prostitution. It is a breakthrough report that is harmonious with the UN Protocol on Trafficking 2000, the ACTI…

Violence against women and girls is an alarming issue that occurs within and beyond the online sphere. The rapid evolution of technology may often mean progress and convenience, but existing digital tools have also lent themselves to the proliferation of online gender-based violence (OGBV).  Though …

The CEDAW Shadow Report: Duterte-Marcos Legacy to Marginalized Women (2023) highlights the experiences of women in the marginalized sectors–women with disability, women living with HIV/AIDS, women migrant workers, indigenous people (IP) women, and lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women (LBT) women…

The CEDAW Shadow Report: Voices, Choices, Participation and Access to Justice: Weaving the Girl Child’s Experience (2023) highlights the experiences of marginalized girls–indigenous girls, girls with disabilities, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) girls and girls from rural communities–under a…

As technology continues to define the landscape of our everyday lives, it may also be used as an instrument to bring forth new forms of gender-based violence (GBV) and exacerbate existing inequalities experienced by and disproportionately affect women and girls. Technology-facilitated GBV is any act…

Gender-based violence facilitated by new technologies entails human rights violation against women and girls on a daily basis. Since 2012, the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) has been observing a growing number of online gender-based violence cases. Online gender-based violence (OGBV) are “h…

The internet is one of the most powerful and enabling platforms for opportunity, sharing ideas and building community, but women and other vulnerable groups are too often threatened, silenced and censored because of having courage to speak out. Since 2012, the Foundation for Media Alternatives has b…

The Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) has been mapping media reports of online gender-based violence (OGBV) in the Philippines since 2012 through the Take Back the Tech! mapping platform. Over the years, these cases have shown trends and emerging manifestations of violence against women and gi…

Leaders and members of the World March of Women-Pilipinas, a network of organizations of women from the basic sectors and with different advocacies, kicked off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, November 24, through a press conference followed by drums and protest performance at …

Women and girls’ increased vulnerability to violence also manifested online over the past year. This January 1 to June 23, 2021, FMA recorded 37 media-sourced reports of online gender-based violence (OGBV) with the use of an APC-hosted data mapping platform. While FMA found that the number of media …

As people turn to the internet for work, school, and social activities, existing inequalities are also revealed in how people access and experience digital spaces. Women still continue to face violence perpetrated with the use of information and communications technology (ICT), which shows how onlin…

Since 1991, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence has been held every year from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW), to December 10, Human Rights Day.  In the Philippines, the campaign runs until December 12. Proclamation No.…

Digital, mobile, and social media have become indispensable to Fiipinos’ every day lives. We are heavy engagers of online media, spending around four hours and 12 minutes on different social media platforms and ten hours and two minutes on being online. Now that the country is facing health crisis, …

Technology-related abuses in the Philippines makes online safety all the more paramount in securing a safe digital space for women, as reflected in Take Back the Tech Philippines’ 2019 report. From social media ‘trolls’ barbarizing women sharing dissent online and apps utilised to commodify women, m…

In light of recent comments made by public officials that treated sexual assault as a mere joke, rendering it “acceptable” and not worthy of condemnation, it is important for Filipinos to be cognizant about the gravity of gender-based violence.  The current patriarchal and misogynistic culture perva…

Jane (not her real name), a 28-year-old woman, received a message from a certain “Peter San Pedro” on Facebook last January 31. He told her that he possesses some of her nude photos. Jane claimed that the man threatened to send those photos to her family and friends if she […]

These materials were produced by the Foundation for Media Alternatives from the Philippines as part of APC’s MDG3: Take Back the Tech! to end violence against women project. Attached below you can find useful materials for awareness raising and training on the subject of violence against women…

18 Days of Activism against Gender-based violence In the Philippines, the 18-day campaign to end violence against women is from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 12, International Day against Trafficking. The campaign calls on everyone to t…

Did you know almost 74% of women, aged 18-30 and younger are more likely to experience online violence? And did you know that Facebook (28%) and mobile phones (23%) are the platforms where most violations were reported? Check out this infographic that draws on the 130 cases reported on the [……