Today, on this Human Rights Day and within the context of the 16 Days of Activism towards Gender-Based Violence, the undersigned companions of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse name consideration to the pressing have to counter the creation, sharing and dissemination of non-consensual intimate photographs (NCII) in addition to to offer sufferer/survivor centred sources and responses. NCII abuse is an alarming and rising type of violence that undermines dignity, security, and pleasure of rights within the digital atmosphere. It impacts the entire inhabitants, together with males and boys, and disproportionally impacts girls, ladies and LGBTQI+ people in all their variety.
NCII abuse consists of the posting or sharing of personal sexual or nude photographs with out consent, and threats to take action. It additionally encompasses the usage of know-how, together with generative-AI, to govern or create artificial photographs, together with deepfakes. It is more and more being recognised as against the law in several international locations, and helpline knowledge signifies that hundreds of thousands of grownup girls worldwide could also be impacted yearly [1]. The creation of generative-AI has compounded the dimensions and scope of NCII abuse. Reportedly, 98% of deepfake movies on-line are sexually specific and 99% of these goal girls and ladies [2]. Since 2019, a 550% rise in deepfakes has been seen [3] , and one hotline experiences a 400% rise in AI generated baby sexual abuse materials over 2025 [4] .
These numbers paint solely a part of the image as many incidents of NCII abuse go unreported because of disgrace, concern of retaliation, stigma, absence of belief in enforcement mechanisms, or an absence of correct reporting or authorized mechanisms or sources to help victims/survivors. More knowledge is important to gauge the actual magnitude of the problem.
We help additional analysis to strengthen the proof base on NCII abuse, together with its prevalence, underlying motivations, perpetrator behaviour, ensuing harms and efficient cures (together with prison costs). Such analysis needs to be knowledgeable by survivors’ experiences and voices.
Breaking the cycle of NCII requires fostering a tradition of consent, respect and gender equality. We likewise help efforts to name consideration to NCII abuse and its results by way of consciousness elevating campaigns, as properly by way of training and digital literacy efforts, aimed toward selling protected and useful on-line behaviours, wholesome relationships and gender-equal attitudes, and that may equip people with the instruments to recognise, forestall and reply to NCII.
We recognise that analysis, training, and consciousness elevating efforts profit from multi-stakeholder voices, together with from worldwide organisations, governments, civil society, the non-public sector, academia, youth and sufferer/survivor views to make sure that these efforts are context-specific, survivor-centred and attain these most in danger.
We emphasise that NCII abuse constitutes a danger to people’ security in addition to a severe violation of privateness, dignity and equality, and it have to be addressed accordingly. Building on current progress on efforts to criminalise NCII abuse, together with Article 16 of the United Nations Convention towards Cybercrime adopted in 2024, (with out prejudice to basic constitutional rules in Member States, associated to freedom of the press and freedom of expression) we help the adoption of complete authorized frameworks that: i) clearly outline NCII, ii) criminalise promoting, distributing, transmitting, publishing or in any other case making NCII out there, iii) guarantee sufferer/survivor help measures, and iv) improve cross-border cooperation given the worldwide nature of NCII dissemination.
We stress the significance of harmonising authorized definitions and procedures throughout jurisdictions to keep away from impunity. Effective administration of legal guidelines ought to embrace, when attainable, applicable and proportionate, well-resourced enforcement mechanisms, and coaching for regulation enforcement and the judiciary (with due regard to their independence) on digital proof, survivor-centred approaches, and accessible reporting and elimination mechanisms that minimise re-traumatisation. Dedicated help companies – together with accessible authorized help and psychosocial counselling – are likewise important to make sure that victims/survivors can safely entry justice.
Digital service suppliers, together with platforms, apps and internet hosting companies, bear a crucial accountability in stopping, detecting and responding to NCII abuse. We name on the non-public sector to think about committing to a Safety-by-Design strategy in creating and deploying platforms and applied sciences in addition to better funding in Trust and Safety. As a matter of urgency, digital service suppliers ought to have in place strong insurance policies and practices that prioritise consumer security, together with by way of the usage of proactive instruments to detect and take away NCII content material, efficient reporting mechanisms and appeals processes, transparency experiences on their NCII-related practices, and collaboration with regulation enforcement, regulators, civil society and researchers, and victims/survivors of NCII.
We encourage the usage of revolutionary technical measures such because the hashing of intimate photographs in addition to the sharing of greatest practices. Cooperation between platforms can also be important to stop re-uploading of recognized materials throughout companies, thereby limiting the continued circulation of dangerous content material and lowering the burden on survivors. Collaboration between platforms and nationwide jurisdictions can also be key to figuring out perpetrators for each prison costs and to stop recidivist account creation throughout platforms.
We reaffirm our dedication to gender equality, human rights and protected digital environments for everybody. We urge governments, the non-public sector, most notably tech platforms, civil society, worldwide organisations, and all stakeholders to affix us to stop, detect and reply to NCII abuse. Together, we are able to be sure that all girls, ladies and LGBTQI+ individuals can take part in private and non-private life free from technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
