Strengthening youth capacity through a multi-layered response to online gender-based violence

ongoing

Women and girls face highly gendered online violence, often in the form of sexualized hate and threats intended to intimidate, silence, and shame. Perpetrators exploit the internet’s anonymity and reach, making online gender-based violence (OGBV) a growing concern in the Western Balkans. Despite its severe impacts on mental health, social participation, and security, OGBV is often not prioritized as urgently as offline violence. The region also suffers from gaps in education, awareness, and policy frameworks. This project emphasizes the vital role of young people in combating gender-based violence through advocacy, education, and policy reform. Youth and youth workers are key agents for societal change; however, youth-led efforts to tackle OGBV in the Western Balkans face limited funding and support. To address this, the LAYERS project employs a layered capacity-building approach that strengthens individuals, organizations, and communities. It starts with enhancing organizational frameworks, then upskills youth workers, provides mentorship for practical implementation, and concludes with public awareness campaigns. Each step builds on the last, ensuring a sustainable and impactful response to OGBV. LAYERS aims to empower youth workers and organizations in the Western Balkans to combat OGBV through capacity-building, cross-border collaboration, and awareness-raising efforts. Its specific objectives include: -Enhancing knowledge and skills among youth workers and organizations to effectively prevent and address OGBV. -Strengthening cross-border collaboration and exchanging best practices to develop a shared approach to OGBV. -Supporting youth-led initiatives with mentorship and resources to drive community-level action. -Raising awareness of OGBV’s impact and promoting digital safety, fostering a culture of respect and inclusion online.