UN briefing highlights Secretary‑General's call to end violence against women, urges tech firms to act

Speaker 1, a UN spokesperson, said a video message from the secretary‑general called violence against women and girls "a global scourge" intensified by digital technology and urged collective action by governments, technology companies and communities to stop online abuse. "The secretary general urges the world to unite to end violence now and everywhere," Speaker 1 said.

The spokesperson framed the appeal around this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and said representatives from UN Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime will brief the press later on prevention and survivor support. The briefing cited UN Population Fund findings that most women in Gaza have been displaced repeatedly and face heightened risks, and described UNFPA and other partners' efforts to provide psychosocial care and reopen safe spaces.

During a reporters' exchange, Speaker 5 asked for more detail about how technology has amplified threats to women. Speaker 1 pointed to vitriolic hate on social media that targets women journalists and politicians and repeated the secretary‑general's call for technology companies to "do their part" to ensure safer online platforms.

While Speaker 1 emphasized collective responsibility—including governments criminalizing online abuse and tech companies improving platform safety—the briefing did not announce new UN regulatory measures or legal steps. The UN said more detailed briefings from UN Women and UNODC will follow in the room as part of the day's observance.

The press briefing will resume with those guest presenters, Speaker 1 said.