iStock Photo Getty Images +
As ever more women and girls fall victim to technology-facilitated gender-based violence, preventing and combating this heinous phenomenon is a key priority for the Commission.
The Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence (VAW Directive), adopted last year, sets up a legal framework at EU level, requiring Member States to criminalise the most prevalent forms of cyberviolence, in particular the non-consensual sharing of intimate material, sexually explicit deepfakes, cyber stalking and cyber harassment. The Digital Services Act (DSA), in force since November 2022, sets diligence requirements for online intermediary services. Crucially, providers of very large online platforms (VLOPs) and very large online search engines (VLOSEs) must assess and mitigate systemic risks to fundamental rights, including those linked to gender-based violence, as well as risks with severe consequences for physical and mental health.
Together, the VAW Directive and the DSA create a comprehensive framework that combines EU-level criminalisation with systemic diligence obligations. Their consistent implementation and robust enforcement are central to protecting women’s rights in the digital age.
This High-Level Event will discuss the challenges and best practices in combating technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Organised in-person at the premises of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 25 November 2025 from 9h to 11h30 AM (CET) and livestreamed, it marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The event is co-hosted by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Hadja Lahbib and FEMM Committee Chair MEP Lina Galvez. It will gather representatives of online platforms, representatives from Digital Services Coordinators, academia, civil society organisations and Members of the European Parliament.