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Description
Online violence, and specifically online sexual violence, is targeted primarily at women and girls; with young women and adolescent girls being particularly at risk of being abused and harassed online. According to the UN, 73% of women have experienced some form of online violence. Online abuse and harassment stem from, reinforce and reproduce the same structural inequalities and discrimination as other forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The first imperative in eliminating online VAWG is prevention along with its effective management. Changing social attitudes and norms is the first step to shifting the way online abuse is understood as a serious challenge. Awareness and sensitization to online VAWG must include educating the next generation of technology users, both boys and girls, as well as their parents, teachers and wider communities; while at the same time creating new tools for the protection and support of women and girls victims of violence.
The main objective of the SAFE-NET project is the creation of a safety net to address online VAWG and to support girl victims of violence through capacity building among school personnel on identifying and treating incidents of online VAWG in the school setting; raising awareness and increasing the knowledge of parents on online VAWG and specifically on handling disclosures of abuse; providing support and information on addressing online VAWG to (potential) victims; and advocacy activities for the adoption of relevant policies.
The school professionals, parents of teenagers and victims of online VAWG constitute the main target groups of project activities and results.
The project is a transnational strategic partnership among three partners from Greece and Norway. The project promoter will be responsible for the overall implementation of the proposed project; while the partners will contribute to the development and implementation of project activities.
Summary of project results
The SAFENET project sought to address the urgent need for effective responses to incidents of cyber violence, particularly targeting girls aged 12-15. The project responded to a gap in existing protocols and tools for frontline professionals, schools, and parents to manage and prevent online violence, an issue exacerbated by the widespread use of technology among young people. In Greece, there was a lack of comprehensive training and materials to protect children from such threats, making this project crucial for both educational and social interventions.
SAFENET developed one of the first European protocols for handling incidents of cyber violence, which was made freely available to professionals working in the field, in both Greek and English. This protocol provided tools and guidelines to help educators, parents, and NGO staff better understand and respond to cyber violence. The project also delivered trainings to over 200 teachers and 188 parents across more than 20 schools in Heraklion, Crete, enhancing their capacity to deal with online threats. A video campaign, created through a school competition, allowed children to convey the message of support and solidarity to their peers, ensuring that no child feels alone in facing cyber violence.
A central achievement of SAFENET was the creation of a bilateral partnership between Greek and Norwegian institutions, including KUN Centre for Equality and Diversity in Norway and Union of Women Associations of Heraklion (UWAH) and Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences in Greece. This collaboration not only enabled knowledge sharing but also brought parents from both countries together through joint online workshops, where they learned about the latest developments in cyber violence and protection measures. The exchange of experiences between Greece and Norway fostered a deeper understanding of the issue and showcased the tangible benefits of the Active citizens fund in enhancing child safety in everyday family life.
Furthermore, the collaboration between Greek and Norwegian institutions resulted in high-quality materials and tools, which were disseminated to over 30 organizations and networks across the EU, and are now used widely by professionals. SAFENET’s partnership emphasized the importance of cross-national cooperation in addressing shared social challenges and contributed to bridging the gap between Greek and Norwegian societies in their approaches to child protection. The project also led to the formulation of a policy framework aimed at improving institutional responses to cyber violence, which was made available to policymakers for further action. This cross-border initiative laid the foundation for future collaborations and the ongoing development of safer digital environments for children in both countries.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral collaboration between KUN Centre for Equality and Diversity in Norway and the Union of Women Associations of Heraklion (UWAH) fostered trust and mutual learning. Key outcomes of this partnership include:Knowledge Transfer and Expertise: KUN provided technical expertise on cyber violence, offering insights and data not readily available in Greece. This contribution helped enhance the project’s protocols for handling incidents of online violence, making resources accessible to professionals across Europe. UWAH localized these outcomes, ensuring relevance to the Greek context.High-Level Coordination: The collaboration was marked by effective communication, ensuring that planned actions were continuously refined. Regular mutual learning meetings (three in total) increased the impact of each project phase. Educational Integration: UWAH successfully integrated the project into local schools in Heraklion, overcoming bureaucratic challenges with the help of a third partner (IAKE). This increased the project’s visibility in schools and ensured acceptance by educational authorities.Highlight at ACF Greece Closing Event: A KUN representative shared the success of the partnership at the Active Citizens Fund (ACF) Greece Closing Event. He emphasized the trust, mutual learning, and long-term cooperation between the two organizations, detailing how Norwegian expertise on cyber violence was instrumental in shaping tools used in schools across Crete. The partnership was presented as a model of how cross-border collaboration can effectively address societal challenges, with both countries benefiting from the knowledge exchange. This reflection reinforced the significance of bilateral partnerships within the ACF framework.In summary, the partnership between KUN and UWAH was mutually beneficial, combining Norwegian expertise on cyber violence with UWAH’s ability to navigate the local educational system.