UNDP Leads Crackdown on Online Gender-Based Violence

The United Nations Development Programme in Sierra Leone has intensified efforts to tackle technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) through a strategic one-day workshop aimed at strengthening digital monitoring and response systems.

The session, organized by UNDP Sierra Leone, brought together key stakeholders, including the Sierra Leone Police, the National Cyber Security Coordination Centre (NCCS), the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs, and students from Fourah Bay College.

The workshop focused on designing keywords for the E-Monitoring Plus Platform, a digital tool aimed at tracking and responding to online abuse. Participants engaged in practical brainstorming sessions, analyzing real-life cases of technology-facilitated GBV in Sierra Leone.

Discussions centered on identifying commonly used keywords, actors, triggers, and hashtags across social media platforms to better detect and monitor recurring patterns of abuse.

Experts at the forum emphasized that TFGBV is an emerging threat requiring coordinated, data-driven responses, particularly as online spaces become increasingly central to communication and social interaction.

The initiative marks a significant step toward enhancing early detection systems and strengthening institutional responses to online gender-based violence, with stakeholders calling for sustained collaboration and public awareness to combat the growing challenge.

The workshop was facilitated with contributions from digital governance and gender experts, including Fred Ampiah, highlighting the importance of multi-sectoral approaches in addressing cyber-enabled abuse.

As Sierra Leone continues to expand its digital footprint, stakeholders say proactive measures such as the E-Monitoring Plus Platform will be critical in safeguarding vulnerable groups and promoting safer online spaces.