The campaign, titled “Boys taking down online GBV,” highlights the critical role of young men and boys in addressing online gender-based violence (GBV). While online spaces should be safe for everyone, the reality is far from ideal. Women, girls, and marginalized groups are disproportionately targeted by online hate and abuse. However, this isn’t just a “women’s issue.” Tackling online GBV requires collective action, and young men and boys play a key part in driving meaningful change.
This campaign aims to make clear the impact of online GBV on young men and boys—both as victims (a reality often overlooked) and as potential perpetrators. To achieve this, the campaign aims to:
For the menABLE’s forth and last Awareness Raising campaign “Boys taking down online GBV” we had the pleasure to have Martina and Francesco from ECPAT. ECPAT is a global network of civil society organisations that works to end the sexual exploitation of children. It focuses on ending the online sexual exploitation of children, the trafficking of children for sexual purposes, the sexual exploitation of children in prostitution, child, early and forced marriages, and the sexual exploitation of children in the travel and tourism industry. The ECPAT International network consists of 122 member organisations in 104 countries. Its secretariat is based in Bangkok, Thailand, providing technical support to member groups, coordinating research, and managing international advocacy campaigns. With them we talked about the role of young men and boys in addressing online gbv, toxic masculinity and peer pressure and how to deconstruct harmful gender norms.