Building digital resilience and preventing online gender-based violence

2026-07-22

The E-mpowerYouth project aims to enhance digital resilience among youth (12-18) and prevent online gender-based violence (GBV) among Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ukraine, Poland, and the Netherlands. E-mpowerYouth will raise awareness and strengthen the capacities of youth, parents, and organizations to recognize, prevent, and respond to online GBV by developing a set of resources, called the E-mpowerYouth Toolbox. It will provide tailored materials for three groups: youth (12-15), youth (16-18), and parents/caregivers, which include self-assessment tools, self-paced short courses, an online referral system, and interactive workshops. The project's consultative approach ensures that resources meet the specific needs of Ukrainian youth, with a focus on girls and LGBTIQ youth, in a rapidly evolving online environment. The project will address topics such as non-consensual sharing of sexual images, exploitation, coercion, threats, sexualized bullying, and unwanted sexualization while challenging harmful gender stereotypes and norms. By improving the understanding of online violence risks and consequences, the project aims to enhance the responses of young victims, witnesses, and bystanders, and reduce the risk of reoffending among peer perpetrators. Additionally, the project will strengthen caregiver engagement and support through workshops and resources that improve parents' understanding of online risks, help them recognize early signs, and empower them to have open conversations with their children, while also offering strategies to manage their own trauma and stress. Furthermore, E-mpowerYouth will improve community responsiveness by establishing clear referral and reporting mechanisms, increasing access to psychological support for victims and strengthening collaboration between organizations working to prevent and combat online GBV.

Netherlands

2025-10-01