Addressing Online Violence Against Women and Girls in the Commonwealth Pacific Region

Abstract

This report focuses on the role of online bystanders in reducing online violence against women and girls (VAWG), including consideration of any related policies or laws. Given the relatively recent emergence of bystanders as potential facilitators and exacerbators of online crime, policy responses have tended to focus on the virtual versions of existing physical crimes, such as ‘cyber’ bullying and ‘cyber’ stalking, and/or the dissemination of intimate images online (when previously they might have been posted on a physical bulletin board). Moreover, these policy responses have tended to focus on capturing perpetrators, but not bystanders, within a legislative framework.